What is better, liquid aeration or core aeration?
Hire a Pro. Liquid aeration seems easy, but it’s not recommended by most lawn experts. Core aeration is the best mechanical treatment, even overtaking spike aeration. The holes created by the aerator’s hollow tines allow more oxygen, nutrients, and water to reach the grass roots. Preparing Your Lawn for Aeration To maximize the benefits of liquid aeration, some preparation is necessary: Hydration: Water your lawn a day or two before aeration to soften the soil. Mowing: Trim your lawn to a manageable height to allow the aeration solution to penetrate effectively.Following the Liquid Aeration treatment, the lawn will need to be thoroughly watered afterward and for the next two weeks for best results.Yes, it is possible to overseed after liquid aeration. The new seed will have an easier time germinating in the newly aerated soil, leading to a thicker and healthier lawn. Additionally, ensure fertilizing your lawn regularly to ensure optimal growth and health.Aerating is easiest on you (or your equipment operator) and your lawn when your soil is moist from irrigation or rainfall the day before. Overly dry soil can be tough to aerate, so moisture eases the process. Never aerate overly wet lawns; wait a few days instead.
Which aeration method is best?
Core aeration is generally preferred for cool-season grasses (Kentucky bluegrass, fescue, ryegrass) or lawns with severe compaction issues. On the other hand, one drawback of core aeration is that it can be invasive for your lawn. Because professionals mechanically pull up plugs of soil during this process, it can leave behind holes in the ground where those plugs were removed. As a result, it can stress it out.It may take longer to work, but it often delivers more effective results (and you don’t have ugly plugs on your grass). Liquid aeration is usually recommended for warm-season grasses (Bermuda, Zoysia, St. Augustine) or lawns with mild to moderate compaction issues.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.This practice benefits extremely compacted lawns and lawns grown on heavy clay soils. Core aeration acts as an immediate short-term relief for the lawn because it directly reduces compaction and creates long-term relief for the root system of the lawn.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.
Does liquid aeration really work?
As the name suggests, this is a liquid application that can be as effective, if not more, than a traditional Core Aeration. Liquid Aeration is an excellent tool because it can loosen the soil deeper than Core Aeration can. Different from mechanical, liquid aeration is accomplished by introducing a humic acid solution on top of the soil to break down and loosen compacted soil particles. The humic acid solution is mixed with water and then applied evenly across the affected area of turf.On the other hand, liquid aeration is effective without the need to bore holes in the lawn. With this method, an organic mix of chemicals is applied to the grass. It gets to work, breaking down the thatch layer and allowing the grass’s roots to breathe. Liquid aerators have proven to be superior to core aeration.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.Liquid aerators have proven to be superior to core aeration. Its effects last longer, and it doesn’t leave behind ugly cores on the lawn. However, that doesn’t mean that manual aeration methods don’t have their place. In some instances, it may be beneficial to use both methods at the same time.
How long does it take to see results from liquid aeration?
However, results don’t happen overnight, and it can take anywhere from 1-2 months to start noticing the effects. However, around this time is when you’ll see your lawn grow healthier and greener! It’s important to note that it’s a slow burn, meaning it gradually improves the soil, so it can take anywhere from 1-2 months after the application to notice the results. However, the effects can last for months.
How often should I apply liquid aeration?
Most lawns need to be aerated at least once a year which is made easy with liquid aeration. You can over-aerate. Over-aerating your lawn can stress out your lawn and leave you with uneven soil. Even though it can be damaging to over aerate your lawn, it is actually quite difficult to aerate too much. It is recommended to have your lawn aerated once or twice a year.Generally, for most residential lawns, applying liquid aeration twice a year—once in the spring and once in the fall—is sufficient to maintain good soil health and ensure robust grass growth.Cool-season grass is weak when coming out of winter dormancy, so spring would not be an ideal time to aerate. The summer heat is the most stressful point of the year for these grasses, so you will not want to aerate and add even more stress during that time.
Is liquid aeration worth the money?
Liquid aerators have proven to be superior to core aeration. Its effects last longer, and it doesn’t leave behind ugly cores on the lawn. However, that doesn’t mean that manual aeration methods don’t have their place. In some instances, it may be beneficial to use both methods at the same time. While you may be tempted to apply liquid aeration treatments to your lawn yourself, it’s not recommended. That’s because you may use the wrong product or one that isn’t as effective as another, you may not apply enough to your lawn, or you may apply it at the wrong time.