What is aeration? Aeration is the naturally occuring process of air exchange between the soil and its surrounding atmosphere. Technically it is mechanically removing small plugs of thatch and soil from the lawn to cultivate the soil by coring, soiking and slicing.
What are the benefits of aeration? Core aeration helps the lawns' health and vigor, and it reduces maintenance requirements. Other benefits include: Improved air exchange, enhanced soil water uptake, improved fertiizer uptake and use, reduced water runoff and puddling, improved turfgrass, rooting, reduced soil compaction, enhanced heat and drought stress tolerance, improved resiliencey and cushioning, enhanced thatch breakdown.
What effect does the type of equipment have? Equipment with hollow tines remove soil cores. Equipment with open tines divots the soil surface. Tines penetrate sandy soils better than clay soil and better in moist than dry soil. In general though turf responds best when core holes are made close and deep.
Why is aeration necessary? in most home lawns, the natural soil has been seriously disturbed by the building process. Topsoil may have been removed or buried and generally the underlawn ground has been compacted in the building process. Intensively used lawns are exposed to stress from traffic injury. Raindrops and irrigaton increase soil density by compacting soil particles and reducing large air spaces where roots may readily grow. And most home are subject to thatch accumulaion. Thatch accumulation grows faster on compacted soils and especially on heavy clay soils that have had compaction. If left unmanaged thatch can lead to serious maintnenace and pest problems. Core Aeration reduces thatch accumulation, minimizes its buildup and modifies its makeup by incorporating soil into thatch.
When should lawns be aerated? Annual aeration is beneficial for most lawns. Both the spring and fall are good times to aerate. Aeration in the spring is best done befire applying pre-emergence herbicides. Fall areation at the time of late season fertilizing enhances root growth responses and improves spring greenup and growth.
What can you expect? Immediately after aeration the lawn will be dotted with small plugs of soil. Within a week or two these plugs of thatch and soil break apart and disapper into the lawn. You should see an immediate difference in water puddling and runoff after irrigation or rainfall as the water will go into the groung better. The lawn should go longer between waterings without showing signs of wilt and show enhanced heat and drought stress tolerance. After a week or two you should see that the holes are filling with the white roots of grass which shows that the topsoil is responding to the additional oxygen, moisture and nutrients in the soil.
If you have other questions about the benefits or the process of aeration please feel free to call us for a consultation.
Pestop/ Hay Creek Lawn and Power
2040 Neal Street
Red Wing MN 55066
Phone: 651-388-7970, Toll Free: 1-800-201-7970
Fax: 651-388-2813, Email: pestop@qwest.net
www.pestopinc.com, www.haycreeklawnandpower.com
Design and Estimating Sprinkler Systems:
Dean
Equipment or Landscaping Project Sales and Estimating
Dean, Wayne
Small Engine, Snow Blower, Lawn Mower and Equipment Repairs: Chris
Customer Service: Carrie, Whitney and Cliff
