How To Aerator Lawn
What is Aerator Lawn?
A lawn aerator is a garden tool designed to create holes in the soil in order to help lawn grasses grow. In compacted lawns, aeration improves soil drainage and encourages worms, microfauna and microflora which require oxygen.
How To Aerator Lawn
Using the aerator: This lawn aeration equipment will pull plugs (or cores) of soil from the ground, letting air in. 1 These plugs should be 2 to 3 inches in depth. The plug should be pulled out of the lawn about every 3 inches. Leave the plugs on the grass: they’ll break down and add nutrients to the soil.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most effective way to aerate a lawn?
The most effective way to aerate a lawn of any real size involves a machine with hollow coring tines.
How do I aerate my lawn myself?
Aerate the Lawn
Whether you’re using a core aerator or a spike aerator, go completely over the lawn in one direction and then go back over it in a perpendicular direction. Spike aerators will punch holes in the lawn as you go, while core aerators will remove plugs of grass and soil.
When should you aerate your lawn?
You want to aerate the lawn when your grass is in its peak growing period so it can recover quickly—think early spring or fall for cool-season grasses, and late spring through early summer for warm-season grasses. If you have high-traffic areas or heavy clay soil, you will want to aerate every year.
How deep should I aerate my lawn?
Aeration holes are typically 1-6 inches deep and 2-6 inches apart. Other types of aerators push solid spikes or tines into the soil without removing a plug (spiking). These are not as effective because they can contribute to compaction.
Should soil be wet or dry when aerating?
Aerating is easiest on you (or your equipment operator) and your lawn when your soil is moist from irrigation or rainfall the day before. Overly dry soil can be tough to aerate, so moisture eases the process. Never aerate overly wet lawns; wait a few days instead.
What should I add to my soil to aerate?
2. Soil additives: You can improve your soil’s aeration by adding elements such as peat moss, sand, perlite, and vermiculite, which make the potting mix less dense. Adding stones to the bottom of your container can also help drainage, improving the soil’s aeration and adding humidity.
How do I aerate my lawn by hand?
How to Aerate Your Lawn By Hand
- Determine your intended path before starting the manual aeration process. …
- With the tool standing upright, firmly grip the handles.
- Push the core aerator into the ground, using the foot bar for leverage.
- As you pull the tool from the ground, you’ll notice small “plugs” of soil.
How long does it take for aeration to work?
Believe it or not, you can actually see core aeration and overseeding results on your commercial property in as little as 7 to 10 days. This is when the soil plugs will break down and the seeds will begin germinating and you’ll start to see healthier, thicker grass develop.
What to do after aeration?
There are also a number of important tasks to perform after aeration and overseeding that can impact this treatment’s success.
- Don’t Pick Up Aeration Cores.
- Water New Grass Seed.
- Continue With a Lawn Care Program.
- Mow Properly After Aeration and Seeding.
- Repeat Aeration and Seeding Yearly.
How do I know if I need to aerate?
10 Signs Your Lawn Needs Aeration:
- When Should You Aerate Your Lawn.
- There’s Thatch.
- Heavy Foot Traffic Areas.
- You Have Clay Soil.
- Puddles On Your Lawn.
- Thinning Grass.
- Discolored Areas.
- Inability to Moisten.
Should you seed before or after aeration?
It’s best to spread grass seed and fertilizer right after a lawn has been aerated due to the holes it creates.