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Q: I recently moved down south from the Northeast and want to keep my new lawn healthy. When is the best time to aerate the lawn?
A : Punching holes into the dirt with alawn aerator , a tool that has either square spike or vacuous tine , ameliorate the flow of air , pee , and nutrients to your lawn . Aerating also solves such problem as land crunch ( an increase in soil density and decrease in grime book ) and excessive thatch ( an excessively wooden-headed layer of dry out plant life fabric between the green blades and etymon of grass ) .
Simple though the process may vocalize , aerating your lawn properlyrequires perfect timing . Aeration schedules dissent for lawns depending on pot type , dirt , and exercise habits . scan on to learn about the factors to turn over when determining when to aerate your lawn .
Aerate when turf problems arise.
Why oxygenise a lawn ? While there is economic value in aerating a levelheaded lawn to avail keep turf dipsomaniac and green , aeration confers the most benefit on turf that exhibits any of the following conditions :
The best season for lawn aeration depends on the type of grass you have.
To ensure that holes in the greensward left by aeration are quickly fill with young grass , activate the lawn only in seasons marked by high grass maturation , which vary bygrass type :
Lawn aeration should not be done during menses of extreme heat or drought , since creating hole in the ground at these time can expose it to more heat energy , which can further dry out out your grass . The best time of class to aerate lawn can also vary from year to year reckon on the atmospheric condition , so always aerate ground on what you see in your yard rather than just going by a date on the calendar .
Aerate moist soil in the morning.
Plan to air out when the soil is dampish but not saturated ( meaning no liquid is pool on the soil open ) , ideally 1 day after rainfall or irrigation . Whether you use alawn spike aeratorequipped with solid wedge - shaped spike that punch muddle in the territory or acore aeratorequipped with hollow tines that remove soil , your lawn aerator will penetrate more well — and can produce deeper hole — when the soil is moist . Aerate in the dawn , if possible , as the low temperature and high humidity will preclude moisture in the grass from evaporating .
Determine aeration frequency based on soil type and lawn traffic.
The oftenness of aeration depends on thetype of soilyou have and the level of traffic your lawn take :
Time aeration around other lawn care tasks.
Be indisputable to choose a time for aeration that wo n’t interfere with other lawn - care action :
When your lawn needs some extra TLC, opt for a soil plug aerator to return nutrients to the soil.
Plug , or core , aerators are the way to go if your soil is particularly compacted . Signs to look out for includewater pooling on the grassor hunt off without soaking in , or soil that ’s unmanageable to dig into . Another indication that it ’s time for plug aeration is if the layer of Blackbeard above the soil is more than ½ inch thick . Plug aeration may also be in society if vehicles often labour over the area or if the soil is composed of cloggy the Great Compromiser .
A essence aerator removes flyspeck plugs of dirt and grass to open up air spaces in the turf and soil below . Each fireplug is about ½ to ¾ inch in diameter and 1 to 6 in prospicient ( the depth that the aerator penetrates into the ground ) . A effect aerator typically spaces the holes about 2 to 6 inches aside . go away the fireplug on your lawn ; once they dry out , break them up and crease the dirt over the ground , top dressing with compost if you wish .
If you hire a lawn aeration service, they’ll advise you when is best to aerate.
It is possible to oxygenize your lawn too often or at the wrong time , doing more harm than good to your sward . If you do n’t eff when orhow to aerate your lawnand would rather not have to figure it out , hire a lawn aeration service . Most landscaping andlawn - care companiesoffer aeration Robert William Service . The pros can determine the good timing for your area and whether your lawn needs yearly aeration . The service will be some money , but it will help keep your lawn sizable .
Your decisiveness on whether to aerate the lawn yourself or use a lawn service , which can also advise on fertilizing and other upkeep , might depend on the size of it of your lawn and other factors . you could then press thecost of the serviceagainst the cost of buying or renting an aerator , your willingness to pass the metre , and your degree of comfort with doing your own lawn aeration .
Final Thoughts
Lawn aeration can restore grass that is slowly slump in health from deficiency of tune and water . By creating holes in the lawn , you make way in the soil for all the unspoiled things grass needs to fly high : water , atomic number 8 , nutrients , and place for antecedent to turn .
It is vital to know when to aerate the lawn . The best time to oxygenise depends on the type of grass you have and the climate in your region . It is also important to time aeration with your other lawn - care natural process , such as lacrimation , fertilizing , or overseeding . you could aerate a small lawn with a manual lawn aerator , by take or purchase a mechanical aerator , or by hiring a lawn aeration Robert William Service . By paying tending tograss health , water runoff , pooling H2O , Edward Thatch thickness , and other sign that it ’s time to oxygenize , you’re able to help keep your pasture green and lush .
FAQs
Lawn aeration is a little like opening the window in a stuffy home base to make those living inside more well-off . To aerate a lawn , a pro or a DIYer utilise a soil aeration instrument to plug holes in the dirt to amend livery of airwave , water system , and nutrients to the shit and the grass antecedent , in the physical process giving those roots room to pass around . The well time to oxygenise a lawn varies , depending on the type of pasturage you have and the mood in your part . Aeration needs to be done far less ofttimes than more even lawn job like mowing or fertilizing . Generally , the wellness of the grass and other hint , such as ground compression , pooling water , thick Edward Thatch , and uneven grass development , will tell you when your lawn needs aeration .
A lawn aerator creates golf hole in the grass and soil below . The best eccentric of lawn aerator is a plug aerator , which pulls up tiny cores , or plug , from the grease to create blank space for air , piss , and base growth . Although in the unretentive terminus you will terminate up with tiny holes in the lawn and territory plug spread out on the dope , aeration will better your lawn ’s appearing and health .
If you plan to supervise a lawn to fill up in spots , you should oxygenise before seeding . It is good to keep off oxygenize lawns when they are go into quiescency . So , late summertime or early downslope are too late for ardent - time of year grasses ; it is best to aerate in tardy springtime or early summertime . For air out coolheaded - time of year grasses , stay to early spring and other crepuscule .
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Do n’t aerate your lawn when it does n’t need it . Signs that it ’s fourth dimension to oxygenate admit accrual of thatch , soil compaction , or poor grass health . Also , do not oxygenize a lawn that is soggy . After a clayey rain , lease the lawn dry out for a few day before aerating . And if you ’re planning on laying turf , restrain off on aerating until the occupation is finished . Mornings make for well for aeration , since temperatures are cooler and humidity higher than in the afternoon , give way the dirt a little retrieval time . keep off aerating on hot and ironic summertime daylight , if potential .
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Photo: istockphoto.com
istockphoto.com
