Sometimes it happens that despite regular mowing, watering and fertilization, the lawn does not look as expected. The reason for the worse condition of the turf in our garden may be the omission of two important treatments, which arescarifying and aeration of the lawnThese two treatments are to loosen the ground and stimulate the grass to spread. Seehow to perform scarification and aerationand when these treatments are performed.
Lawn aeration - spikes for piercing shoes
Lawn verification
Lawn scarificationis a procedure involving shallow vertical cutting of the turf. Its purpose is to remove the remains of old, dead, felt-like turf. Pathogenic fungi and bacteria may develop in the felt layer. Removing the felt will facilitate the penetration of oxygen, light, nutrients and water into the grass roots. This will increase the efficiency of watering and fertilizing the lawn.
Scarifying also helps fight weeds and moss on your lawn. Mosses, lichens and shallow-rooted plants, as well as the felt layer, make it difficult to provide the lawn with the necessary substances for life. The surface cutting of the turf is deadly for them, and at the same time it does not damage the deeper rooting grass.
When to scarify?
Lawn scarificationshould be done first of all in early spring, after the first mowing. Then this treatment will speed up the regeneration of the lawn after winter. It is also recommended before seeding.If a felt layer forms again during the growing season, scarify again in late autumn.
The question remains:when to scarify your lawn for the first time ? Well, scarifying should not be carried out within 1 year of setting up the lawn, because the grasses are still too weakly rooted.Scarifying for the first time is recommended in the 2nd or 3rd year after sowing the grassor in the 2nd year after the rolled out lawn .
Scarifier knives should work at a depth of 1-2 cm
How do I scarify?
Special devices called scarifiers are used to performlawn verticulation .Manual scarifier (mechanical)is a type of rake equipped with very narrow, staggered teeth that cut into the soil under the lawn to a depth of several cm. Such rakes may have wheels, which makes them easier to guide.The hand scarifier works very well on small lawns up to 100m² and young lawns that should not be scarified too much.
Lawn scarification after winter
Fig. WOLF-Garten
Due to the necessity to use a lot of force when working with a manual scarifier, owners of medium and large lawns should obtain equipment with electric or combustion drive, equipped with a set of knives for cutting the turf.Electric or petrol scarifiersare much more efficient, easier to use and more effective than manual ones.
Compared to combustion appliances,electric scarifiersare more environmentally friendly, do not produce unpleasant exhaust odors and are quieter. Their exploitation is also cheaper. However, they require a cable connection to an electricity source, although you can also find devices equipped with batteries.The electric scarifier will be the best choice for owners of an average size lawn in a home garden or on a plot.
Owners of the largest lawns can decide onpetrol scarifier . Petrol scarifiers are usually more powerful and easier to move over large areas due to the lack of the need to connect to a power source.
When choosing the device, it is also worth paying attention to the engine power, working width measured in cm, and the material from which the knives and the body are made. The scarifier is not used often and will therefore last for many years. For this reason, it is worth having good quality equipment (one-time purchase for many years).
Lawn aeration
Aeration of the lawn , i.e. aeration of the lawn, it is a deep (up to 10 cm) pricking of the turf with spikes in order to loosen and aerate the soil. Under the influence of aeration, the grass roots become stronger and the turf becomes even.This treatment significantly accelerates the regeneration of the lawn after winter, but on intensively used lawns, aeration should be repeated in late summer or even several times during the season.
Lawn aeration with manual aerator
Fig. © PoradnikOgrodniczy.pl
Compared to scarifying,lawn aerationis a more delicate procedure, because the turf is only pricked and not cut. However, the penetration into the soil is greater, thanks to which we reach the root system of the grass better.
As in the case of scarifying,aeration is performed for the first time in the second year after the lawn has been established.Young lawns are shallowly pricked in 2-3 years after their establishment, using 3-4 cm long spikes. This is enough, because grasses at such a young age do not yet root deeply. Older lawns should be punctured 6-10 cm deep.
On a small lawnaeration can be done by pricking the turf with a pitchfork . Special overlays for shoes with spikes on the soles are also available in garden stores.
However, taking into account thatper 1 m² should be made up to 200 holes in the turf , it is not difficult to imagine that performing this procedure with forks or even trampling in spiked shoes, it is terribly laborious. That is whyit is worth having a device called an aeratorOn small home lawns and young lawns, which should not be punctured too deeply, a manual aerator will be perfect. This device is light, easy to store (it has a foldable handle and twisted spikes) and it works well.
For large lawns and older lawns that need to be punctured deeper, it is recommended to use thelawn roller with spiked bands onYou can also get an aerator with your own drive - electric or combustion engine, or purchase a dual-function device (usually with a replaceable shaft) that will act as both an aerator and a scarifier.
How to enhance the effect of lawn aeration?
The effect of lawn aeration can be improved by sandblasting the lawn after aeration. It is recommended if the ground under the lawn is very compact, firm, loamy.The sand will fill in the aeration holes, preventing them from clogging with cohesive soilThis will allow the grass roots access to air longer than aerating without sanding.
Additionally, the lawn can be sprayed with a preparation known as a liquid aerator. It contains cultures of beneficial microorganisms that oxygenate the soil, improve its structure and break down dead organic matter. Suchbiological aeration very effectively strengthens the effect of mechanical aeration
More Lawn Care Secrets
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