How To Aerate Your Lawn

For warm season grasses common to southern lawns the best time for aerating is late spring or very early summer. 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.

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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 to aerate your lawn. Leave any soil plugs on the lawn. Pull the tool from the soil and grass and check the. Push a hand aerifier which has tube hollows that are 1 4 to 1 2 inch in diameter or a spading fork through your lawn grass and into the soil.

Other aerators use short spikes to punch holes in the turf. Spike aerators punch holes in your lawn as you go while core aerators work to remove grass and soil plugs. If it s a spike aerator make at least two passes over the lawn each in a different direction.

Test your lawn s need for aeration by examining how deep the grass s roots extend into the soil. The process is usually called core aeration after the practice of punching small plugs or cores into the lawn. Apply at least 1 of water to the grass.

Prepare the lawn for aeration water the lawn thoroughly one to two days prior to aerating your lawn. Aerating is the process of punching small holes all over your lawn. Make sure to mark any sprinkler heads or shallow irrigation septic or utility lines so that you won t accidentally run them over.

If using a plug aerator just one pass is needed. They will return nutrients to the soil as they decompose. Aerate the lawn whether you re using a core aerator or a steel spike aerator you should cover the lawn completely in one direction and go back over it in a perpendicular motion.

Aeration is good for lawns but it can stress grass if timed improperly. Spiking is not nearly as effective as core aerating but it s better than nothing. This can be measured by placing an empty tuna can in the middle of the watering zone.

For cool season grasses common in northern lawns early fall or early spring are the best times for aerating. Never aerate dormant lawns. If the roots don t go deeper than two inches you should aerate the soil.

The most effective type of aerating is with a gas powered machine called a core aerator that pulls out small cores of grass and soil. For lightly compacted soil go over your entire lawn once with the aerator making sure to follow directions for use. It s best not to aerate within a year of reseeding since the grass needs time to get strong.

If the can is full then 1 of water has been applied to the grass. The day before aerating your lawn apply 1 inch of water to the lawn to soften the soil. 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.

Aerate the lawn using your chosen tool.

Wondering How To Grow A Lush Green Grass Learn How Aeration Can