What does a core aerator do?
Core aeration for lawns is a mechanical process, which extracts cores of soil, thatch, and grass from the surface of the lawn to increase nutrient availability, water penetration, soil air exchange and reduce compaction. Irrigate the lawn prior to aerating if the soil is dry. Aeration can be done before overseeding. This procedure makes holes for the seed to fall into, therefore increasing seed-to-soil contact. Core aeration should be performed every one to two years on lawns that receive heavy foot traffic.By performing lawn aeration in the summer, you are giving your warm-season lawn the best chance to perform optimally and thrive as it grows. As you might have guessed, if you had a lawn made up of primarily cool-season grass, then lawn aeration would be best performed in the fall.Preparing for Aeration Ideally, you should water the lawn at least a day or two before aeration; you should add at least one inch of water to the soil to make it easier for the aerator to penetrate the soil and pull out the cores.It’s best to apply fertilizer right after completing the aeration process, or within a few days. We recommend purchasing a fertilizer with a balanced nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium ratio (NPK) that’s suitable for your grass and soil type. It’s always best to test your soil before applying fertilizer.
What’s better, spike or core aerator?
If aeration is used primarily for over-seeding and fertilizing, then spike aeration is just fine. If aeration is needed because of major soil compaction that is preventing from having a nice healthy lawn, then core aeration may be the way to go. After aeration, it is best to avoid heavy traffic on your lawn for at least two weeks. The holes created in the soil need time to heal and settle, and heavy traffic can cause further damage to the grass. Avoid parking heavy equipment or vehicles on your lawn during this time.It is possible to over-aerate your lawn. While aeration is beneficial for soil health, excessive or improper aeration can cause damage to the grass and disrupt the overall balance of the lawn. Aeration should not be done too frequently.Core aeration can certainly help to level out your lawn, but it is not a guaranteed solution.The best time to aerate and overseed a lawn is late spring to early summer for warm-season grasses and late summer to early fall for cool-season grasses. That’s when the weather allows the best germination rates and healthy growth.
Which type of aerator is best?
We recommend you choose a core aerator. Why? Spike aerators can loosen soil in the short term, but since they don’t actually remove soil from the ground, they usually end up compacting soil even more in the long run. Core aerators are often available at rental agencies. If you prefer not to do it yourself, core aeration is a service provided by most professional lawn care companies. Remove soil cores that are approximately three-fourths of an inch in diameter and 3 inches long. For best results, aerate lawns when the soil is moist.You want to aerate the lawn when your grass is in its peak growing period so it can recover quickly—think early spring or fall for cool-season grasses, and late spring through early summer for warm-season grasses. If you have high-traffic areas or heavy clay soil, you will want to aerate every year.Lawn topdressing should be performed right after aeration as it’s not nearly so useful to do it without the holes already there.Before aerating, appropriately irrigate the lawn. If the soil is wet, you won’t want to aerate it, as it can get quite muddy. However, you also want to make sure the soil isn’t too dry either.Leave the Cores The cores of soil and thatch that are pulled up by the aeration machine are then left on the lawn. While they might look a little unsightly, resist the urge to clean them up. The cores contain beneficial microorganisms, which will help break down the thatch in the rest of the lawn.
What is an aerator used for?
An aerator is a mechanical device used for aeration, or mixing air with another substance, such as water or soil. The word aerator may also refer to: Faucet aerator. Floating surface aerator, used in wastewater treatment. Aerators are small metal screens that control the water flow by allowing little air pockets into the stream when water pours out. When water is released, the air pockets prevent the water from splashing and shapes it into a steady stream.An aerator adds oxygen and induces circulation into the pond or lake for water quality management purposes; while a fountain is designed to throw water into the air to create an attractive pattern.Figure 1 shows its working principle -an air cavity is, with the help of the offset, generated, from which air is entrained by emulsification into the water flow.
Do you really need an aerator?
Aerating your lawn helps water, oxygen and nutrients get deep into the soil to create a healthier landscape, improve your water efficiency and even allow you to cut back on your water use (which can save you money). You want to aerate the lawn when your grass is in its peak growing period so it can recover quickly—think early spring or fall for cool-season grasses, and late spring through early summer for warm-season grasses. If you have high-traffic areas or heavy clay soil, you will want to aerate every year.Many people seem to think that since lawn aerating is a good thing, doing it often is better. However, frequent core aeration can actually damage the health of your lawn by damaging the roots. After using an aerator on the lawn, the thatch and soil plugs could fall back into the holes.Late Fall Is Too Late Lawn aeration and overseeding are best done in the early fall, ideally at least a few weeks before the first frost of the year is due.Aeration can be done before overseeding. This procedure makes holes for the seed to fall into, therefore increasing seed-to-soil contact. Core aeration should be performed every one to two years on lawns that receive heavy foot traffic.When is it Not Recommended to Aerate Your Lawn? Your lawn needs time to adjust and regrow after aeration, which is why winter should be avoided as your lawn is in its dormant state. Grass simply won’t grow and thrive if the ground is very wet or cold.