Should i water before aerating

This is a key factor in successful germination. Additionally, this will allow time for the new seedlings to establish for several weeks before mowing is necessary. We utilize core aerators when aerating lawns. The machines have weights in the front to assist them in pulling a deep plug from the soil. Watering the lawn prior to the service will further aid in the depth of plug that will be pulled. The ground should be moist but not soaking wet. If the soil is too wet, the machines will bog down and perform poorly.

If you have a cool weather variety of grass, such as Kentucky bluegrass, fescue, or perennial ryegrass, aeration can be done between March and May or in the fall. By waiting until the fall, you can add a late-season fertilizer, which will help your lawn green faster in the spring and ensure stronger root growth. For warmer season grasses, such as Bermuda grass, aeration is best done between April and July. In most cases, you only need to aerate once per year.

However, if you have heavy, clay-based soil, or a lot of traffic on your lawn, you may need to aerate in the spring and the fall to keep your lawn healthy. Also, if you have seeded or sodded your lawn within the last year, do not aerate; wait at least two years to ensure the roots have taken hold.

To determine whether your lawn needs to be aerated, dig up a small section of your grass, and examine the roots. If there are less than two inches of root growth, your lawn could benefit from being aerated. If you know that you have clay-based soil, aeration is a necessity for a healthy lawn.

Follow these steps to properly aerate your lawn. Aerating your lawn begins by preparing the area. 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. Do not try to aerate a muddy or especially wet area though, as that will just clog the machine. Using a core aerator, move across the lawn in the same pattern that you would to mow the grass, taking care to cover the entire lawn.

It is important not to remove the soil cores from the top of the grass. These will dissolve back into the ground after the first heavy rain and deposit beneficial microbes into the upper layer of soil, helping to breakdown organic matter and reducing excessive thatch.

This is a great time to fertilize and overseed the lawn. Depending on the machine, the tines can be up to about three-quarters of an inch wide and four inches deep. Some homeowners have used spikes — either via a device or spiked shoes — to poke holes in the lawn, but this method is not as effective as it can compact the soil deeper. Professionals often have the proper tools and training to provide long term health along with aeration services. As with most lawn care tasks, it is possible to aerate your lawn yourself.

For warm-season grasses common to southern lawns, the best time for aerating is late spring or very early summer. When aeration coincides with active growth, grasses recover quickly and fill in areas where aerator equipment exposes soil.

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. Slicing aerators slice through lawns and leave soil in place. Aerating equipment comes in three main types, from small manual versions to larger tractor-like or pull-behind machinery:.

You can hire a lawn service to aerate for you or do it yourself like a pro. Equipment rental companies and lawn and garden stores often rent aerator machines and provide basic operating instructions for the model you choose. Aerating is a lot like mowing as you work back and forth across your lawn. Concentrate on any known problem areas, like pet runs or backyard baseball diamonds.

Make several passes in different directions to help ensure optimal coverage and benefits. After you finish aerating your lawn, let soil plugs or extra soil dry where they fall. They'll break down in rain or crumble the next time you mow, adding beneficial soil and organic matter to your lawn surface. Right after aeration is a perfect time to overseed with premium Pennington Smart Seed and fertilize your lawn or do simple lawn repairs.

Seeds and nutrients have direct contact with soil through the openings your aerator created and roots have fresh pathways for the things they need. The combination can help put your lawn on the fast track for quick seed establishment and thicker, lusher growth. By adding aeration to your annual task list or doing regular compaction tests to check for need, you help ensure your lawn can reach its full potential for thickness, health and beauty.