Key Points
- Your lawn will probably only need aerating once or twice per year.
- When you aerate depends on the type of grass you have.
- In general, aerating during the growing season is the best approach.
Should I aerate my lawn in the fall?
Aeration is good for lawns, but it can stress grass if timed improperly. Never aerate dormant lawns. For cool-season grasses common in northern lawns, early fall or early spring are the best times for aerating. For warm-season grasses common to southern lawns, the best time for aerating is late spring or very early summer.
When should I aerate my St Augustine grass?
When to Aerate if You Have Warm-Season Grasses: For warm-season grasses such as Bermudagrass, buffalograss, St. Augustine and zoysiagrass, aeration can take place during warm times of the year between late-spring and early-autumn.
How often should I aerate my lawn to prevent thatch?
However, dethatching is a fairly violent action to a lawn, and an annual core aeration may well prevent thatch problems in the first place. If you have the type of soil and conditions that require lawn aeration, you can do it once each year.
How often should I water my lawn after aerating?
Watering. Water soil within 48 hours after aerating it, and continue to water every two to three days for two to three weeks after aeration, to aid in the speedy re-growth of holes in the turf. Mowing or establishing sod.
Why is aeration important in lawns?
Why aerate before overseeding?
How to judge thatch in lawn?
How to tell if your lawn is compaction?
Why does my lawn have a pool?
How does fertilizer work?
Can you aerate grass in extreme heat?
See 4 more
About this website
What is the best month to aerate my lawn?
Aeration can take place at any time of the year, but the best time is usually in the spring/early summer or fall. The general recommendation is to core aerate when there is the most root growth.
How do you aerate your lawn NZ?
You can use a plug aerator or a spike aerator – both of which involve creating holes in your lawn. A spike aerator requires a solid tine or a fork, while a plug aerator removes a 'plug' section of your grass with each move. If you are buying tools for this task, make sure you follow the instructions.
Can you aerate your lawn too early?
You wouldn't want to aerate and overseed too early, before the last frost hits for example, and kill the seeds. You also wouldn't want to do it during the peak of a hot summer, when the harsh sun and temperature suppress new growth. For cool-season grasses, common in northern lawns, aerate early fall or spring.
How do you know when to aerate your lawn?
The best time for aeration is during the growing season, when the grass can heal and fill in any open areas after soil plugs are removed. Ideally, aerate the lawn with cool season grass in the early spring or fall and those with warm season grass in the late spring.
How do I fix a patchy lawn NZ?
Step 1: Remove weeds from the area and rake away any dead lawn stems and foliage. ... Step 2: Lightly rake one way to create shallow furrows. ... Step 3: Lightly rake to cover the seeds with soil. ... Step 4: Keep the soil moist at all times, otherwise, seeds may dry out and result in poor germination and patchy growth.More items...
Should all lawns be aerated?
Is lawn aeration necessary? Almost all lawns will benefit from aeration, and a great lawn demands it. That said, most lawns do not need it. Lawns suffering from heavy foot traffic, excessive thatch (>1 inch thick) or grown on heavy soils will benefit most.
Can I aerate in March?
Spring Aeration and Overseeding If you're looking to aerate your landscape in the spring, the best time would be between March and May. While we recommend aerating your lawn in the fall, spring core aeration may be beneficial if your turf is so compacted it refuses to grow.
When should you not aerate your lawn?
Spring is not the ideal time to aerate the lawn, but circumstances may require it. If the soil is so compacted that existing grass can't grow, it may be necessary to aerate in the spring. 1 Generally, though, spring aerating is discouraged because the aeration holes provide a perfect spot for weed seeds to germinate.
Should I pick up plugs after aerating?
The consensus is that no, you should not pick up plugs or cores after aerating. In a few days, these little pieces of your lawn should break down and become unnoticeable. This process is aided by watering your lawn deeply after aerating or waiting to aerate before it rains.
What should I put on my lawn after aerating?
After you finish aerating your lawn, let soil plugs or extra soil dry where they fall. They'll break down in rain or crumble the next time you mow, adding beneficial soil and organic matter to your lawn surface.
Does aerating a lawn really help?
Aerating your lawn promotes the decomposition of organic matter, helping to fertilize the grass. Aeration also encourages deeper and stronger roots, making your lawn more resistant to heat, drought, and insects. Using a lawn aerator can help your grass grow thicker, greener, and more robust.
Should I water after aeration?
During the first two weeks following your aeration and seeding service, the main goal is to keep the ground/seed moist while the seed begins to germinate. We recommend that you water each day for at least 20 minutes in all areas of the lawn (water the soil to a depth of about 1/4”).
What's the best way to aerate a lawn?
The most effective way to aerate a lawn of any real size involves a machine with hollow coring tines. This type of aerator punches holes and removes soil cores from the ground. Spike aerators and those with slicing knife blades, such as the Craftsman Tow Spike Aerator, are less effective.
When should I Dethatch my lawn NZ?
The lawn should be dethatched when it is actively growing and the soil is moderately moist. The best time of year for dethatching is the same as for aerating: early spring or early autumn for cool-season grasses, and late spring through early summer (after the second mowing) for warm-season grasses.
How do you aerate your soil?
Soil aeration is usually done either with a plug aerator or a spike aerator. A plug aerator removes actually cylindrical plugs from the soil. A spike aerator pokes holes in the soil with a spike. Most lawn professionals recommend using plug aeration because piercing the soil with spikes may cause more soil compaction.
How do you air grass?
0:361:40How to aerate your lawn - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSimply insert the fork into the lawn. And punch holes into the soil giving the fork or wiggle toMoreSimply insert the fork into the lawn. And punch holes into the soil giving the fork or wiggle to better fracture the soil in order to achieve adequate aeration.
Best Time to Aerate Lawn – Why and When You Should Aerate Your Lawn
Regular, simple lawn maintenance tasks help when you're trying to create a healthier, thicker lawn. Jobs that are typically done annually can play help support other monthly lawn maintenance tasks. For many people, aerating lawns to improve grass growth and alleviate soil compaction is a regular task done annually.
When is the Best Time to Aerate Your Lawn? - Toro Yard Care Blog
Regardless of where you live and what type of turf grass you’re working with, aeration can help your lawn be healthier and more beautiful. The trick is knowing when it’s best to aerate, what equipment to use, and what else you can do to encourage the vigor of your grass.
Do You Aerate First Then Put Down Lawn Fertilizer? | eHow
Lawn maintenance includes several steps for tending to and encouraging healthy growth. Aeration is necessary to allow the water and oxygen to reach the roots and soil below the lawn's surface. After removing plugs of soil during aeration you can fertilize your lawn to promote stronger growth.
Why is it important to aerate grass early?
Aerating too early or late in the year, such as during winter dormancy or summer heat and drought, stresses the grass at a time when it needs to conserve its resources. Poor timing of aeration could open the lawn to weeds, insects, or disease.
Why is it important to aerate a lawn?
Aerating the lawn addresses thin and bare spots associated with soil compaction, and helps to correct thatch buildup caused by shallow rooting. Aerating the lawn loosens the soil surface and breaks up the thatch layer, which fosters deeper root development. It also lets water and nutrients penetrate deeper.
What does aeration do?
If your grass looks bad, aeration could be one of the keys to bringing it back to good health. Hardpan soil resists water penetration and deep root development. Some grasses adapt to this condition by forming a dense layer of shallow roots, rhizomes and stolons at the soil surface, better known as thatch.
How does an aerator work?
A core aerator is a heavy roller covered with hollow spikes that’s rolled across the grass to pull soil plugs from the lawn’s root zone. The sheer weight of the roller drives the spikes through layers of thatch, dense roots and compacted soil. It pulls ⅜ inch diameter plugs, up to ¾ inch deep or more.
Is it necessary to aerate a lawn?
Lawn aerating shouldn’t be viewed as a routine maintenance activity. Aerating the lawn when it isn’t necessary weakens the grass and could lead to pest or disease problems. Instead, watch for indications of compact soil such as worn areas, puddling, thin or dead patches, discolored grass, uneven growth, or thatch buildup. Any one of these symptoms could indicate the need to aerate.
Can an aerator work on damp soil?
The aerator functions best on damp soil. Hard, dry soil may be impervious even to the machine that’s supposed to fix it. While you might be able to fix this by lightly irrigating several times per day for a week to soften the soil, a better solution would be to aerate after a significant stretch of wet weather.
Is aerating your lawn worth it?
Aerating the lawn is definitely worth the trouble and expense, if the lawn needs to be aerated. Lawns with the classic symptoms outlined above would be likely candidates. It also makes sense to aerate before overseeding.
When is the best time to aerate grass?
This occurs around Memorial Day in many climates. But the very best time to aerate is in the fall when the temperatures have cooled off, when the weed pressure is minimal, and when grass is actively growing.
What is aeration in lawn care?
Aeration is a lawn care practice designed to create openings in lawn turf and the underlying soil structure in order to penetrate the root and thatch layer and allow essential water and air down into the soil where it can better reach the grassroots.
Why do you aerate?
Why You Should Aerate. Aeration is the antidote to the heavily compacted soil, which may be present on a lawn that gets very heavy foot traffic, or which is planted on a soil base that is heavy in clay content. It rarely is necessary where soils are on the sandy side. 1 Core aeration is sometimes advertised as a solution to problems with thatch;
Can you aerate a lawn with a motorized machine?
Usually, the practice is done with a motorized machine that can be rented, though there are also hand tools that can be used and which may be practical on very small lawns. Lawn care companies also offer aeration among their repertoire of services.
Does raking grass hurt it?
It does not hurt your lawn, and in fact, will make it healthier and more attractive. Some people dislike the look of the small plugs of soil and turf that are pulled up and scattered over the lawn, and if so, you can rake them up. Left on the lawn, though, they will quickly break up and decompose.
Can you slice seed in spring?
If spring overseeding is the goal, slice seeding can be done, or seed can be sown and topdressed to provide adequate germination conditions. Late spring aerating may be beneficial, however, if the ground is extremely compacted, or if there is excessively thin turf.
Why aerate your Lawn?
Over time a lawn builds up thatch (unless scarified regularly – see scarifying blog). This decayed matter builds up to form a thick matted organic layer. This layer can become a barrier for water, nutrients and air getting to the roots.
When is the best time?
Which effectively means autumn or spring are your best chance at getting the ideal ground conditions. During these times growth is highest and any lawn damage or patches created recover quicker.
When should we Aerate?
Lawns can generally be aerated at any time. But for the best results you will need to check the preferred times below. These times depend on the type of grass you have.
Equipment for Aerating
Firstly we’ll look at lawns, they take more equipment that garden beds do.
Aerating a garden bed
It’s quite a simple process. The soil simply needs to be turned over. This can be done by using a hand tiller, and pushing through the soil to loosen. Alternatively, you can use a fork to pick up and turn the soil.
Aerating your lawn
Before aerating, there needs to be some preparation done to your lawn.
Should You Be Aerating Your Lawn?
One of the most common questions from homeowners is how to determine if they should be aerating their lawn. Your lawn is probably a good candidate for aeration if it:
When to Aerate Your Lawn
The best time for aeration is during the growing season, when the grass can heal and fill in any open areas after soil plugs are removed. Ideally, aerate the lawn with cool season grass in the early spring or fall and those with warm season grass in the late spring.
Aerating Tools: Plug Aerator vs. Spike Aerator
Two main aerating tools exist — a spike aerator and a plug aerator. With a spike aerator, you simply use the tool to poke holes into the ground with a solid tine, or fork. Plug aerators remove a core or plug of grass and soil from the lawn. For the best results, use an aerating tool or machine that actually removes plugs of soil.
How to Aerate Your Yard
If you’re convinced that your lawn is in need of aeration, here are some lawn care tips on how to do it:
When is it easiest to aerate a lawn?
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.
What is the best way to aerate a lawn?
Aerating equipment comes in three main types, from small manual versions to larger tractor-like or pull-behind machinery: 1 Spike aerators simply poke a hole down into the soil with a solid, spike-like tine. Some homeowners wear spiked aerator “sandals" strapped to their shoes to aerate as they do yard work. While these can help on a small scale, spike machines can make compaction worse by pressing soil together around the holes. 1 2 Slicing aerators have rotating blades that cut or slice through grass and thatch and down into soil. Like spike aerators, slicing aerators leave soil in the ground, but they create pathways for air, water and nutrients without causing more compaction. 3 Core or plug aerators, typically preferred by lawn professionals, use rows of hollow tines that remove plugs of soil from your lawn and deposit them on top, where they break down. The size of the plugs and the holes they create vary in width and depth, depending on the machine used.
What is the purpose of dethatching and aerating?
Thatch is the layer of decomposing organic matter that forms right at the lawn surface, between soil and grass. When thatch gets more than 1/2 inch thick, it works like compaction to prevent the flow of air, water and nutrients grasses need.
Why do you aerate your lawn?
For many homeowners, aerating lawns to relieve soil compaction and enhance grass growth is a regular annual task. Almost any lawn can benefit from aeration when it's timed well and done properly.
How do spike aerators work?
Spike aerators simply poke a hole down into the soil with a solid, spike-like tine. Some homeowners wear spiked aerator “sandals" strapped to their shoes to aerate as they do yard work. While these can help on a small scale, spike machines can make compaction worse by pressing soil together around the holes. 1.
Why do grasses die?
Grasses gradually thin and eventually die out completely, for lack of the oxygen, water and nutrients available just inches away. Even a single aeration session can open ...
What is a slicing aerator?
Slicing aerators have rotating blades that cut or slice through grass and thatch and down into soil. Like spike aerators, slicing aerators leave soil in the ground, but they create pathways for air, water and nutrients without causing more compaction.
When is the Best Time to Aerate?
Aeration is best performed just before or during periods of high growth. However, not immediately preceding or during periods of stress to the lawn. For example, heat or drought. The type of grasses that make up your lawn will determine the best time of year to aerate.
What to do after aerating lawn?
3 Things To Do After Aerating Your Lawn: 1 Watering after aeration is always a good idea. As Friell said, aeration should never be performed when turf is wet, or the dirt contains enough moisture to be muddy. 2 Applying an application of fertilizer and weed killer is beneficial shortly following aeration. However, be sure to skip the weed killer if you’re going to overseed following aeration. 3 Overseeding following aeration makes sense because seeds can take advantage of the disturbed surface to create better seed-to-soil contact, which encourages successful germination.
Why overseed after aeration?
Overseed after aeration so seeds can take advantage of the disturbed surface. This creates better seed-to-soil contact, which encourages successful germination.
Can you apply weed killer after aeration?
But don’t apply a weed killer if you plan to overseed following aeration. It will prevent germination of the seed you put down.”
Does aeration affect turf?
According to Josh Friell, Ph. D, of The Toro Company’s Center for Advanced Turf Technology, aeration introduces temporary stress to the turf. Recovery time is closely linked to growing conditions and annual growth cycles. As a result, it’s important to keep those considerations in mind when determining an annual aerification plan.
Can you aerate grass after aeration?
As Friell said, aeration should never be performed when turf is wet, or the dirt contains enough moisture to be muddy. Applying an application of fertilizer and weed killer is beneficial shortly following aeration. However, be sure to skip the weed killer if you’re going to overseed following aeration.
How to Aerate Your Lawn
Lawns are an investment, so you want to make sure you are taking care of them properly. One crucial part of the lawn care process is aeration. Aeration is the process of perforating the lawn to release CO2 and allow oxygen to the plant roots. Aeration also removes thatch and increases drainage.
Why You Should Aerate Your Lawn
Aeration is a vital part of the lawn care process. Here are some reasons why you should consider aerating your lawn.
When Is the Best Time to Aerate Your Lawn?
The best time to aerate your lawn depends on the condition of your lawn and growing region. It can be done throughout the year, except for when it is winter and during the warm summer months. It may take some trial and error to find out when your lawn needs aeration. In general, it is best to aerate in early spring or fall.
How to Aerate Your Lawn Manually
Aerating your lawn manually is not difficult. It does take some time and muscle, but it is a great way to aerate your lawn without a machine. This method works for light patches of dirt as well as heavy areas. Here is how to aerate your lawn manually.
Why is aeration important in lawns?
If the lawn contains bare patches where neither grass nor weeds grow, the soil beneath these areas is likely to be compacted. Aeration promotes even growth by providing grass better access to water, nutrients, and air. Poor drainage.
Why aerate before overseeding?
If you plan to overseed (the process of planting new grass seeds into an established lawn), aerate before overseeding to increase contact between seeds and soil. This way, a higher percentage of the new grass seeds will germinate. Fertilization.
How to judge thatch in lawn?
To judge your lawn’s extent of thatch, remove a one-square-foot, four-inch-thick slice from the top with a shovel. If the thatch layer is more than one-half inch thick, aerate the lawn. Aeration reduces thatch buildup by boosting the activity of soil microbes that decompose thatch. High traffic. Aeration can reduce soil compaction in lawns ...
How to tell if your lawn is compaction?
Dry and/or hard soil. A classic sign of soil compaction is when a lawn feels bone dry and dense to the touch and rock hard underfoot. You may also have difficulty inserting trowels or shovels into the soil. Aeration increases soil moisture and softness by providing grass better access to water. Uneven growth.
Why does my lawn have a pool?
Poor drainage. Rainwater or irrigation often pools in low areas of the lawn because it cannot permeate compacted soil. Aeration improves drainage by improving soil’s absorption of water. Excessive thatch. To judge your lawn’s extent of thatch, remove a one-square-foot, four-inch-thick slice from the top with a shovel.
How does fertilizer work?
Fertilizer works best when it reaches deep into the soil where the grass roots can access it, so plan to aerate before applying fertilizer to create the holes needed for fertilizer to sink deeply. Watering.
Can you aerate grass in extreme heat?
Aeration should not be done during periods of extreme heat or drought, as creating holes in the soil at these times can expose it to more heat, which can further dry out your grass.
