What Is Aeration?
Technically speaking, aeration is the naturally occurring process of air exchange between the soil and its surrounding atmosphere. Practically speaking, aeration is the process of mechanically removing small plugs of thatch and soil from the lawn to improve natural soil aeration.
Aeration Benefits
Aeration can help make your lawn healthier and reduce its maintenance requirements through these means:
- Improved air exchange between the soil and atmosphere.
- Enhanced soil water uptake.
- Improved fertilizer uptake and use.
- Reduced water runoff and puddling.
- Stronger turfgrass roots.
- Reduced soil compaction.
- Enhanced heat and drought stress tolerance.
- Improved resiliency and cushioning.
- Enhanced thatch breakdown.
Aeration Equipment Affects the Outcome…
Different types of equipments exist.
With the hollow tines of the lawn coring aerator, clumps of soil are removed.
The roller aerator creates small holes to enable air, water and nutrients to infiltrate the soil.
You can also use lawn aerator shoes. Just walk to create small holes in your grass. It is a good solution for small aeras or ideal if you are combining lawn aeration with a sports session!
To choose the right tools, several things need to be considered:
- the lawn surface
- the working comfort expected
- the type of soil you have
The deeper and closer the holes, the more the lawn is receptive.
Lawn aerators have peaks whose diameter go from 7 to 10 cm (2.5 ” to 4″) and which can dig up to 10 cm (4″) deep.
The Mantis aerator: 2 features in 1 tool
Get the Aerator Attachment for your Mantis Tiller.
It suits the tiller after having taken off the cultivating tines.
It enables you to create thousands of little cuts in your grass to unclog it, it prevents the lawn from being suffocated by water and favours exchanges between the surface and the deepest layers of the soil. All of this in the easiest way possible as you benefit from the tiller’s engine to move forward.
Besides, the Mantis lawn aerator has an impact on thatch. Look at the pictures: it is all the plant debris that stay on the blades.
How Often Should You Aerate a Lawn?
Most lawns benefit from annual aeration. Heavily used lawns, or those growing on heavy clay or subsoils may need more than one aeration each year. Again, turf responds best when tine spacing is closer and penetration is deeper.
When is the Best Time to Aerate Lawns?
If you have cool season turfgrass such as Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass, both spring and fall are ideal times to aerate. In spring, aerate between March and May. Perform fall aeration between August and November. Aeration before or at the time of late season fertilization enhances root growth and improves spring green-up and growth. Warm season turfgrasses such as zoysia grass and Bermuda grass should be aerated in mid-spring to summer. Avoid aerating when warm season grasses are dormant it may encourage weed competition. In addition, avoid aerating warm season grasses during spring greenup, and not until after their first spring mowing.
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