![]() Overly dry and compact soil is harder to penetrate and requires more manual effort to push the machinery. You aerate and overseed during dry conditions.Īerating is easy on your turf, and you, when your soil is slightly moist. Not sure which applies to you? Here in Pennsylvania, cool air and moist soil in the fall and spring make it the perfect time to lay fresh turf, helping to build greater resistance against disease, insects, and drought.Ĥ. Warm-season grasses, common to southern lawns, grow best in the late spring or very early summer. You also wouldn’t want to do it during the peak of a hot summer, when the harsh sun and temperature suppress new growth.įor cool-season grasses, common in northern lawns, aerate early fall or spring. You wouldn’t want to aerate and overseed too early, before the last frost hits for example, and kill the seeds. The proper time to aerate is when new life has the greatest chance to grow in your region. You aerate and overseed during the wrong time of the year. Make sure you choose the right machine and understand how to use it to ensure the best results for your lawn.ģ. This can be time-consuming, so instead, some operators will lift and spin the whole unit when it’s time to turn, potentially causing compaction and bare spots later on. In addition, during each turn, you must disengage the tines by lifting up from the handle to prevent damaging the turf. Large lawns can mean achy arms and sloppy navigating, resulting in inconsistent growth. ![]() Walk-behind aerators are a common choice but can be heavy to push. You don’t know how to use your aeration machine and accidentally damage your turf.Īfter you choose the right aeration equipment, much of the success of your new growth will be the result of how well you operate the aerator. Look for an aerating tool or machine that removes soil plugs approximately two to three inches deep and roughly half to three quarters of an inch in diameter, about two to three inches apart. Even spike aerators, which use a solid tine or fork to poke holes, can cause additional compaction in the areas around the holes.įor best results, use a plug aerator, which removes a core, or plug, of grass and soil from your lawn. Instead of investing in an aeration machine, they think aerating is just about creating holes- but actually, the concentrated force of stepping with a spiked shoe further compacts your soil. We’ve all seen the do-it-yourselfers walking across their lawn in cleats, poking holes in the soil. Unfortunately, mistakes can be all too easy to make- and could cost time and money, with little return.īe sure to avoid these seven aeration and overseeding mistakes to get the thick, healthy look you desire: 1. In fact, when done correctly, aerating and overseeding can be extremely beneficial to the wellbeing of your turf. To revitalize your grass, you may consider aerating and overseeding, or creating holes in your soil to plant fresh seedlings. When to hire pros: If your thatch problem is severe (about 3/4 of an inch thick or more), rent a vertical mower from a rental center or hire a lawn service to do the lawn aeration job.We all want a bright green lawn, but after a harsh summer or winter, your turf is likely a little dull, thin or patchy.This is also the best time to overseed your lawn, but do it reasonably quickly after aeration, such as within a couple of days. What to do after aerating: Water the lawn every two to three days after aerating.Leave the plugs on the grass: they'll break down and add nutrients to the soil. The plug should be pulled out of the lawn about every 3 inches. ![]() These plugs should be 2 to 3 inches in depth. Using the aerator: This lawn aeration equipment will pull plugs (or cores) of soil from the ground, letting air in.Preparing to aerate: The plug removal process is facilitated by watering the lawn the day before, but don't water to the point of muddying the soil.Since you should not need to aerate your lawn frequently, renting rather than purchasing the aerator may make better financial sense. Renting an aerator: You can rent a lawn core aerator from a home improvement store or rental center.How to Aerate Your Lawn With a Core Aerator The Spruce Home Improvement Review Board.
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