Lawn Aerator
Lawn Aerator
Lawn Aeration - Give Your Lawn Some Air
Lawn Aeration - The word "aeration" means "to supply with air." Soil that has been broken down by having too much organic material on its surface or has been crushed down cannot properly feed the grass growing in it. Sort of like a plant that has become root bound, the grass cannot get sufficient nutrients from the ground. In order to repair this problem, we need to loosen up the soil preferably without disturbing the grass growing on top. The term for the unwanted organic material on the surface is called "thatch." The term for soil that has been crushed down is "soil compaction." Both conditions suffocate the grass growing within it and need to be repaired for a healthy lawn.
Thatch - Grass is healthier if it is free of thatch and compaction. Thatch is that layer of dead leaves, old dead grass, tiny sticks and other "woody" organic matter that accumulates between the soil surface and the living grass. If thatch buildup becomes more than a quarter to a half inch, it can lead to lawn disease, drought and insect infestation. Aeration removes some of this buildup, and allows air and moisture to penetrate the soil which increases the activity of microorganisms that help decompose the thatch layer and feed and strengthen the grass. You can also do well towards de-thatching by raking. Raking with a stiff rake will also help loosen tough thatch. For best results, it is suggested that you rake trouble areas in your lawn before aeration.
Soil Compaction is where the soil loses the tiny air spaces within it from objects on top of the soil repeatedly traveling over it such as foot traffic. Heavy winds or rain can also cause soil compaction. The air spaces in the soil not only contain air, but also contain moisture and organisms that keep the soil active. Worms help keep soil alive by moving around in the soil eating bacteria, fungi, protozoa and organic mater and leaving its poo behind to help fertilize and de-compact the soil. When worms come to a highly compacted area, they tend to move around the perimeter of it, because it is too hard to penetrate. So, an already soil compaction problem tends to stay a problem without aid from our little soil caretaker friends. Signs of soil compaction include rapid browning of vegetation in dry weather, foot or tire worn areas and poor drainage after a rain. Heavy soil compaction problems are best cured by core aeration. To test the level of soil compaction, spray the area in question with a garden hose. If the water stands and does not soak in quickly, the soil is compacted. You should be able to press a small stick such as a wooden match into the soil about an inch or so fairly easy.
When to Aerate - Depending on the variety of the grass, its requirements may vary, but it is safe to say that for the spring growing season, it's a good idea to give your grass a little breathing room. Some people say to aerate lawns in the late Fall and others say to do it in late Winter, early Spring, either way is fine, but I prefer to do it in early spring just before I put down my initial weed and feed.
Types of Aeration - There are basically two types of aeration methods. Spike aeration and Core aeration. Core aeration is sometimes called plug aeration because it leaves little chunks (plugs) of soil on the ground. It is safe to use spike aeration annually, but core aeration should only be done to correct soil compaction once every three or four years, and not as routine lawn care.
I have found that it is easy for me to do core aeration on or close to the 29th of February. This way I know I'm not over doing it, and because leap year is every four years, it makes it easy to remember too. I do spike aeration every year except when I core the lawn.
Aeration Equipment - What you need to aerate your lawn varies by the size and condition your lawn is in. If you have a small yard, you might get by with poking hole in the ground with a garden fork or some other sharp pointed hand/foot tool. If your lawn is larger or is more compacted, then a larger tool is needed. You can get powered walk-behind aerators and aerator attachments that hook up to most any riding mower or lawn tractor. You can either rent or own lawn aeration equipment. Keep in mind that this is at most an annual chore and aerators are not very small, so unless you are a lawn professional, it doesn't really make sense to own an aerator. Renting is probably the best way for you to aerate your lawn. You will need to pick an aerator that is powerful enough to get through heavily compacted soil. Rental prices vary, but it is typical to pay anywhere from $50 to $75 bucks a day for a nice aerator. You might find it cheaper and easier to hire a lawn professional with the right gear to do it for you.
Aerating Your Lawn - Before you start dragging out the aerator, you should first cut your lawn very short by lowering the mower deck to one of the lowest settings. Then run the aerator over the lawn taking care to not get too close to any tree roots that may lay on or close to the surface. If you are using a core aerator, take note that the machine will leave plugs all over the yard. Although it will look weird for a short while, leave the plugs on the yard so they will release their nutrients back into the soil. You can run your mower back over the lawn with the deck in the lower setting to breakup the plugs which will help them dissolve and make your lawn look a little better. After the grass starts growing it will hide the plugs that are left on the ground. I also found that watering in the early evening each day for the first week helps dissolve the plugs faster. Be sure to reset your mower deck back to its normal setting when you're done so you don't forget.
About the Author
Ray Shank has been providing many no nonsense lawn care tips and techniques through his website www.MowDaddy.com. Sign up to MowDaddy's FREE lawn care tips newsletter. Get hundreds of tips and tricks delivered directly to your inbox.
should i use an aerator or should i till my lawn to sew grass seed?
trying to plant grass
Hi:
An aerator is used for an established lawn. It is mainly used to balance a lawn out and allow the lawn to become more plush and thicker. It is also used for bare spots and an overall maintenance program.
A tiller can be used if you are completely redoing your lawn. If you are completely redoing your lawn, apply a weed and or grass killer to the entire area.(if there is existing weeds and grass) Wait up to one week so the chemical has a chance to kill off the roots. Till the area over a few times, as the more times you work your soil, the better your seeds will germinate. Apply the grass seed, keep watered and you also can lay some hay down. The hay will help retain the moisture in the ground.
Aerating is great to do in the spring and fall as the tiny holes made by the aerator is a great way for seed and fertilizer to get into the ground.
I hope this has helped some. I will link you to the outdoor feature section of my website. There is a page on sod versus seed that may give you some additional information. I will also link you to the site map, as this page has everything that is on the website. Browse through and see if there are other articles, tips or techniques that may be helpful to you. Good luck on your lawn and have a great day!
Kimberly
http://www.landscape-solutions-for-you.com/Outdoor.html
http://www.landscape-solutions-for-you.com/Site.html
Lawn Aerator
Lawn Aeration Tips
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Lawn Aerator $12.99 Frees the lawn carefully and thoroughly of moss, mowing remains and weeds. Double sided, working width 38 cm with 11 long and 21 short, powder- coated blades. |
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Lewis Standard Tool Lewis Standard Tool Lawn Spike Aerator M7C $24.53 Lawn spike aerator 4-3/8? diameter spikes penetrate, loosen, and perforate the ground Lets air, water, and fertilizer to the roots Made of structural steel rod 40? overall length Handle is vinyl gripped Brand #: Lewis Standard Tool M7C UPC: 033607009381 Keywords: lawn aerator spike |
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45-0369 - 40In Spike Lawn Aerator $199.69 [6948822] UPC: 052613100189 40L x 11.13W x 4H 57 LB 1.03 Cubes |
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45-0299 - Lawn 48In Plug Aerator $493.11 [8561318] UPC: 052613452998 36L x 60W x 36H 91 LB 45 Cubes |
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Spike Aerator 40in $127.85 Get Your Job Done Faster And Easier Aerators can be used in the spring or late fall, whenever the lawn's moisture content is high. Plug aerators remove 3/4 inch diameter soil plugs from the lawn, allowing compacted soil to loosen up in addition to the benefits provided by a spiker aerator. 32 Plugging Spoons 13 Gauge Steel Up to 2.5" Aeration Depth Available in 40' and 42" Single Lever Transport Handle 10' Pneumatic Tires 144 Spikes |
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Plug Aerator 40in $200.42 Get Your Job Done Faster And Easier Aerators can be used in the spring or late fall, whenever the lawn's moisture content is high. Plug aerators remove 3/4 inch diameter soil plugs from the lawn, allowing compacted soil to loosen up in addition to the benefits provided by a spiker aerator. Weight Tray Buckets Aeration Depth up to 2.5 Inches Galvanized Points Resist Rust 42 Inch: Single Handle that is Accessible from the Seat of a Lawn Tractor 40 Inch: Two Handles -One Near Each Wheel -Engage Before Use 10 Inch Pneumatic Tires 2 Sizes Available 40 or 42 Inch |
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Plug Aerator 42in $273.75 Get Your Job Done Faster And Easier Aerators can be used in the spring or late fall, whenever the lawn's moisture content is high. Plug aerators remove 3/4 inch diameter soil plugs from the lawn, allowing compacted soil to loosen up in addition to the benefits provided by a spiker aerator. Weight Tray Buckets Aeration Depth up to 2.5 Inches Galvanized Points Resist Rust 42 Inch: Single Handle that is Accessible from the Seat of a Lawn Tractor 40 Inch: Two Handles -One Near Each Wheel -Engage Before Use 10 Inch Pneumatic Tires 2 Sizes Available 40 or 42 Inch |
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Lewis Tools Spike Aerator $38.99 Improve the health and beauty of your lawn with the Lewis Tools Spike Aerator. With its four 3" spikes and a convenient long handle, this efficient piece of lawn equipment loosens compacted soil and penetrates thatch, allowing for perfect aeration. Lawn aerating is necessary to let oxygen, water and fertilizers reach down to the grass roots. Aerated lawns are less susceptible to droughts and temperature fluctuations. This effective tool reduces soil compaction, thatch build-up, water run-off and puddling. Perfect for preparing a lawn for fertilizing or over-seeding. Made of steel. This item ships directly from the manufacturer. Product usually arrives in 2-8 business days, depending on destination, including order processing and shipping. APO/FPO shipping unavailable |
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Lewis Tools Core Aerator $37 The handy Lewis Tools Core Aerator reduces back strain and makes lawn aerating easy. Aeration is essential for lawn health and appearance as it allows oxygen, water and nutrients to penetrate deep down to the grass roots where they are needed most. Stimulates vigorous root growth. Removes two 1/2" cores, 3 1/2" long, which you can use to deposit important micro-organisms onto the lawn surface. Breaks down thatch, reduces soil compaction, water run-off and puddling. Made of steel with an anti-rust finish. This item ships directly from the manufacturer. Product usually arrives in 2-8 business days, depending on destination, including order processing and shipping. APO/FPO shipping unavailable |
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Lawn People $52.64 Lawn People |
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Lawn Order $19.4 Lawn Order |
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A Bicycle on a Lawn $24.99 A Bicycle on a Lawn - Photographic Print |
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Lawn Furniture $39.99 Lawn Furniture - Giclee Print |
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Lawn Billards $24.99 Lawn Billards - Photographic Print |
Making Short Work of Lawn Aeration
There is no sight more enticing then a lush green lawn. With green space becoming a rare commodity, especially in urban areas, it is not surprising a lush green lawn is fast becoming the favorite with homeowners around the world. While it is one thing to wishing about having the best lawn in town, it is quite another to actually make one look good. It does require some amount of hard work and investment of your time. You must be first of all be genuinely interested in all the tough work that goes with having a well aerated lawn. Helping you in your endeavor would be good old lawn mowers and lawn aerators. A lot of people tend to ignore the aerating part and instead give more preference to the mowing part, without realizing that unless your lawn is well aerated, its true beauty would not come to the forefront.
Typically what happens is that the top few inches of the soil becomes compacted with time and therefore hard. This hard surface can have a seriously damaging effect on the overall health of your lawn. The compact soil would first of all impede the smooth flow of water. What this in turn would mean is that the turf would not be getting all the essential nutrients that it needs to grow. A lot of people without realizing the underlying problem often end up blaming other things such as bad fertilization or lack of watering or sometimes pests on the poor health of their lawn.
Lawn aerators therefore hold the key to a healthy looking lawn that you can be proud off. What the process of lawn aeration does is to make the compact layer of soil loose. This in turn allows for better supply of oxygen and other essential nutrients to the roots. This allows for the beauty of the top layer to shine through in the form of a green lawn.
Rolling lawn aerators are the favorite with homeowners around the world. This type of aerators has a simple design with a drum or axle containing rows of spike, which is pushed or towed behind a vehicle. The drum would press the spikes on the lawn and loosen the soil as the aerator is moved along the lawn. There are other methods too for aeration that are sometimes found useful. For example, you can also use a garden fork or even spiked shoes for aerating small areas.
You can also opt for a core aerator, which would actually remove a core of the soil. There are several lawn professionals who believe that these core aerators are a better option than the aerators with spike. Whatever may be your choice, the important thing to remember is to make sure that you aerate your lawn at regular intervals of time. The best time to aerate your lawns would be either spring or fall depending on the type of grass that your lawn has. While it is best to aerate summer grass types in spring, fall is the best time for cool season grass types.
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