Benefits of Aerating Your Lawn
There are several benefits of lawn aeration. Lawns with a thick build up of thatch that is more than an inch (2.5 cm.) deep can suffer from disease and insect problems. This deep layer of old material harbors pests and disease pathogens, such as fungal spores. The thatch also minimizes the amount of nutrients and moisture that the roots need to grow. The benefits of aerating your lawn also include stimulating root growth by providing a more porous and easy to navigate soil texture. Lawn aerating is not always necessary annually on low thatch varieties of grass, but it cannot really hurt to increase the movement of water to the roots. Lawn aerating is also important for earthworm activities, as it loosens the soil so they can perform their important composting activities.
When is it Time for Aerating Your Lawn?
You should aerate a lawn when soils are moist. Spring is a great time to aerate a lawn made of warm season grass. This is when the grass is actively growing and it will recover quickly from the process. The cooler season lawn is better aerated in fall. If you are not sure if you need to aerate, simply dig a section of turf out that is at least 1 inch (2.5 cm.) square. If the brownish layer under the green, growing grass is an inch (2.5 cm.) or more, then it is time to aerate. You can also just stab a screwdriver into the sod. If it is difficult to bury the tool to the hilt, it is time to aerate.
Aerating Lawn Tools
You can aerate a lawn with many different tools. The most inexpensive way is with a pitchfork or spading fork. This tool is most useful for aerating smaller areas. Simply punch holes as deep as possible in the turf layer and then rock the fork to enlarge the holes. Repeat and overlap your path as you move through the lawn. More expensive aerating lawn tools, called coring machines, are also available. You can rent them and they make quick work of the job. Powered aerators rapidly punch holes in the sod and remove plugs, which are deposited on the surface of the lawn.
Lawn Aeration Steps
Water the sod well before you use any method of aeration or coring. Allow for four weeks of healing time before winter’s cold or summer’s hot fury. If you want to overseed, you should also wait four weeks. Then top dress the area with good quality soil and sow with seed that is appropriate for your area. Compress the area with a roller, which you can also rent. These are heavy wheeled tools, which compact the earth and ensure seed contact with soil. They can also help smooth bumpy lawns. Unfortunately, the process may also increase compaction again, requiring you to aerate the lawn again soon.
