- The amount of aeration that should be conducted depends on how intensely you maintain your lawn. Even a lawn that is cared for on a daily basis will probably only need to be aerated once a year. If your lawn maintenance is more moderate, aeration can take place every other year.
- Perforation of the soil below the grass as well as the thatch above the grass is the aim of aeration. Small holes are poked into the lawn that are still large enough for the allowance of water, air and fertilizer to reach down to the roots. A lawn that is properly aerated will result in roots growing deeper, which in turn produces a more durable grass.
- The best time for aeration is during the peak growth period of the grass. This mean aeration of cool-season grasses should take place during either late summer or early fall. Spring is the best time to aerate warm-season grass. Avoid aerating either cool or warm season grass during periods of the highest temperatures as this is when the grass is subject to the most stress.
- Your lawn should receive a light watering on the day before you aerate. This will facilitate the perforation process by allowing the tines or spikes to more easily penetrate the soil. The key thing is to avoid overwatering your lawn in order to avoid the formation of mud beneath a layer of hard compacted soil.
- The best results come from using a tool known as a core aerator. The tines of this tool can create holes up to 3 inches down and spread 2 to 4 inches apart. Another benefit of using a core aerator is that it removes grass and soil plugs to assist in the process of dethatching your lawn.
- Smaller lawns can be effectively aerated using a foot press device that enters the soil as if you were using a spade. Very large lawns that would take too long and require excess physical activity using a core aerator are more easily attended to using an engine-powered aerator that is similar to a standard lawn mower.
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