Aerating the lawnconsists in piercing the turf with special spikes. This treatment, also referred to as aeration, loosens the soil under the turf and brings more air, water and fertilizer to the grass roots. Seehow to properly aerate your lawn , when is the best time to do this andwhat tools to use to aerate your lawn
Lawn aeration, i.e. aeration
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Why do you aerate your lawns?
Over time, which is especially noticeableon intensively used lawns and established on heavy soils , the layer of soil under the lawn becomes more and more compact (the amount of space between soil particles decreases). ).As a consequencethe amount of air supplied to the grass rootsdecreases and the lawn wastes, turns yellow, withers or rots.
Then it is necessaryto aerate the lawn , i.e. aeration. Lawn aeration is designed to loosen the ground and provide air to the grass root system. In this waywe will provide better conditions for the growth of turf, and the lawn will better withstand intense trampling
Types of lawn aeration
There aretwo types of lawn aeration :
- Surface aeration of the lawn(surface aeration) - consists in creating holes in the soil 3-4 cm deep. Such aeration is used when there is shallow soil compaction, which makes it difficult for water to soak after watering or rainfall. This type of lawn aeration will provide better results for the subsequent fertilization of the lawn as the nutrients will go deeper into the soil and be more available to the grass roots.Surface aeration is also recommended for young lawns in the period of 2 and 3 years after their establishment. During this period, the grass roots are still shallow and surface aeration is enough for them.
- Deep lawn aeration(deep aeration) - involves making holes 6-10 cm deep in the soil, while piercing the lawn with spikes is used on sandy or clay soils, and on heavy soils, tubular knives are more often used, which bring out cut soil plugs from the lawn to the surface. You can sprinkle and rake sand or a mixture of sand and peat or compost into the holes, thus additionally loosening the soil. We use in-depth lawn aeration primarily in cases where the grass turns yellow during prolonged sunny weather, as well as in the presence of moss on the lawn. Deep aeration is also recommended for spooky lawns (4 years from establishment and older) that have deep roots.
When to aerate the lawn?
Lawn aeration is usually done twice a year- in spring and at the beginning of autumn.
The date of lawn aerationshould be adapted to the prevailing weather conditions. If the soil is too dry, you should first water the lawn, and if it is too wet, wait for the treatment until appropriate weather conditions occur.
Aerating the lawn with spiked shoes
Fig. depositphotos.com
Deep aeration is done in early autumn , when the soil is most compacted after intensive use in the summer. The lawn aeration treatment also speeds up the regeneration of the lawn after winter.
Lawn aeration tools
If you have a small lawnto aerate the lawn, you can useshoe spikes or simply prick the lawn with a pitchfork.Unfortunately, when using such methods, aeration is very laborious.
Thereforeit is much better to have a device called an aeratorFor deep aeration, you can use a sufficiently large and heavy lawn roller, on which bandages with spikes are put on.For surface aeration, a light manual grass aerator with an openwork shaft is sufficient. This device is lightweight, easy to carry and store. Its handle can be folded and the spikes can be unscrewed if necessary. It is an ideal solution for owners of small home lawns with an area of up to 100m².
In the case of large areas intended for aeration, electric or gas powered aerators with self-drive will be better suited, as they will be more comfortable to use. However, investing in such devices makes sense on lawns with an area of at least several hundred square meters.
How to aerate your lawn?
If the grass is very tall,mow the lawn before aerating the lawn period of growth. The puncture is performed in one direction, constantly returning to the new belt. The number of voids created, i.e. holes, depends on the type of soil.On heavy soils the number of holes should be approx. 180-200 holes per 1 m² and on lighter soils approx. 120 holes per 1 m²
Immediately after the treatment, it is recommended to sand the lawn with dry sand, evenly distributed in the amount of about 0.1m³ per 100m² of the lawn. The sand used is to allow free water and air penetration in the vicinity of the grass roots.Sandblasting after aeration is recommended on heavy , clay soils. Sand, which will fill the aerated holes, will prevent compacted soil from closing the holes.However, we do not sandblasting on light soils, so as not to loosen the soil under the lawn excessively.If the condition of our lawn is very bad, you can additionally sow grass seeds before sandblasting.
We enhance the effect of lawn aeration
Regardless of the mechanical aeration performed, 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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After reading this book, you&39;ll find thatthere is a solution to every lawn problemIt is enough to gain the necessary knowledge in this field. And everything you need to know is in this book: -) "
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