AERATION – Giving your grass a breath of fresh air (and water)
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This story is brought to you by LawnTech, a leading specialist for tree care, lawn care and landscaping in eastern Idaho.
As the snow finally recedes and the ground thaws out, you will begin to see signs of life in your lawn. While it may not be the most beautiful thing at the moment, there is a lot that can be done to give your lawn an early season boost in the spring.
The first thing is a good spring fertilization, which can help bring the grass out of dormancy quicker and give you a green lawn faster.
The second thing to consider is lawn aeration.
Core aeration is the process where a machine removes one inch plugs of soil 2-3 inches deep at regular intervals throughout the lawn. This loosens the soil and cuts through the thatch layer to allow the nutrients and water to get down into the root system. The plugs are deposited on the surface. They can be removed, but with a few waterings they will break down and reincorporate into the lawn, so removal is not always necessary.
According to Justin Lindstrom, ISA Certified Arborist and Landscape Manager for LawnTech, aeration “increases the penetration of air and water into the root system of the lawn.” He says “Lawns need water and nutrients to thrive, which are taken up through the roots. If those [nutrients] can’t get to the roots due to compacted soil or heavy thatch, the grass will struggle.”
Another benefit of having the lawn aerated is that it can help the lawn grow thicker, which in turn makes it less prone to weeds.
When you have your lawn aerated, you will need to mark any sprinkler heads in the lawn so that the aerator doesn’t hit them. Otherwise it is a pretty straightforward process.
In East Idaho it is best to do aeration in the spring or fall, when soils tend to have more moisture and you have a better chance of getting the full depth of the plugs. If the soil is too dry it may be too hard for the aerator to penetrate. A well-irrigated lawn can be aerated any time of year.
Aeration is not something that is always necessary every single year. You may want to have it done annually if you have a lot of traffic on your lawn, or if you have clay-like soils or other factors that may make it essential. Otherwise, aerating every other year can keep the lawn healthy and thick.
Many companies offer aeration service and it is also possible to rent the machine and do it yourself. If you aren’t familiar with running machines like that it may be best to have a professional handle it.