LAWN AERATION: The stronger the roots of your grass, the healthier and greener your lawn will be.
What Is Lawn Aeration?
Technically speaking, lawn aeration is the naturally occurring process of air exchange between the soil and its surrounding atmosphere. Practically speaking, core aeration is the process through which small soil plugs or cores are removed from the lawn to allow air, water and nutrients to penetrate the grass roots. Most aeration is done mechanically by a machine. Known as a core aerator, an aeration machine extracts cores of soil from 1/2 to 3/4 inch in diameter and deposits them on your lawn.
Why Is Lawn Aeration So Important?
The most important reason for lawn aeration is to reduce soil compaction. The ability of your grass to absorb and process water and nutrients is directly related to the depth and strength of the root system. Simply put, the stronger the roots of your grass, the healthier and greener your lawn will be. Soil compaction greatly reduces the pore space within the soil that would normally hold air, water, and nutrients which roots require to grow. Through conducting heavy core aeration each season, one strengthens roots while making the turf less susceptible to diseases and damage.
Increase Air, Water and Nutrients
A second reason to hire a lawn aeration service is to reduce thatch build-up. Thatch is the build-up of old grass clippings and organic matter. Eventually, this material creates an impermeable layer above the soil surface. It is very difficult for water and nutrients to penetrate into thatch heavy soil. Thatch can prevent water and nutrient materials from penetrating beyond the ground surface and this leads to the roots of your grass only growing close to the surface. This makes the turf susceptible to damage and can cause grass to thin and dry out over time. Core aeration reduces thatch accumulation, minimizes its buildup, and modifies its makeup by incorporating new soil into the thatch.
The Benefits of Lawn Aeration
Lawn aeration opens the soil to reduce soil compaction and minimizes thatch accumulation. Even if your lawn is lush, thick and green, you should core aerate each year. Lawn aeration is best suited as a preventative measure rather than a corrective alternative.
- Increases the activity of soil microorganisms.Increases water, nutrient & oxygen flow into the soil.Improves root systems.
- Enhances infiltration of rainfall or irrigation.
- Improved fertilizer uptake and use.
- Enhances heat and drought stress tolerance.
- Enhanced heat and drought stress tolerance.
- Enhanced thatch breakdown.