Core Aeration: A Crucial Step for Healthy Lawns
When it comes to creating a lush, green lawn, there are usually only two things on a homeowner’s mind:
Fertilization
Routine Watering
The goal with each is to ensure that your lawn is kept healthy enough to nourish the grass.
Sounds like the perfect plan, right?
Well, what many homeowners forget is that the micro and macronutrients (and even the water sprayed from your hose or underground sprinker system) don’t often reach the deep soils of your lawn without proper aeration.
The environment found deep below the ground is just as important as the environment found at the surface!
When you pay attention to the grounds below, you create an ecosystem that’s ideal for vital growth above. For a quality envelopment for lawns to flourish all season long, adding Core Aeration to the mix is ideal.
We’ve partnered with a professional lawn care provider, Tee Time Lawn Care, who specializes in aeration programs to give you the information you need!
What Is Core Aeration & Why Your Yard Needs It?
Core aeration is the process of using a machine (called an aerator) to remove small cylinders (aka “cores”) of soil from your lawn.
To perform core aeration, professionals use a plug spike or a plug aerator that opens the ground for air, water, and fertilizer. Aeration allows existing grasses (and newly applied seedlings) to become strong and healthy.
In short, core aeration helps your lawn by:
Increasing nutrient availability.
Increasing the penetration of water.
Increasing surface area for air exchange.
Reducing soil compaction.
How Often Should You Aerate Your Lawn?
This will depend on the type of soil that composes your lawn!
Clay soil will require core aeration more often than sandy soil. If you live in a region where the climate is harsh, your lawn may need to be aerated 2 to 4 times every year.
Practicing core aeration will give your lawn the foundation it needs to thrive. Giving it the attention it needs will keep your lawn from attracting lawn diseases and out-of-control weeds. Your turf will be able to better handle the stress of cold and heat with deeper, thicker roots.
Other Things To Know About Core Aeration
· Lower Risk of Thatch: Aerating your lawn will help reduce dead grass layer build-up, commonly known as “thatch”.
Aeration also increases the microorganism count in the soil, which helps decompose these dead layers, and as a result, nutrients are able to penetrate deeper into the soil – a perfect recipe for a vibrant lawn.
· Reduced Soil Hardness: Hard or compacted soil prevents the air and nutrients from reaching the soil’s core which deteriorates the grass, causing dead patches, and spots on the lawn.
Core aeration helps reduce soil density as well as relieve the compaction effectively.
· Fall is the Best Time for Aeration: To prepare your grass for winter dormancy, lime treatment and fall lawn aeration are highly recommended.
This gives your grass a head start to store ample energy throughout the cold winter months. Consider aerating your lawn before and after over-seeding. This will boost the germination process and provide a healthy environment for the new grass seedlings.
· Lime Treatment After Core Aeration: If you’re working with a professional lawn aeration service provider, they will most likely perform lime treatment after aerating your lawn. Applying lime reduces the acidity in the soil and balances its pH levels, further allowing nutrients to go even deeper into the ground.