If your lawn sees heavy
traffic, kids playing, family gatherings, and the
like, it could be suffering, to some degree, from soil compaction.
Compaction causes soil to lose its fluffy texture, keeps air and water out, and
makes it tough for grass roots to grow. Annual Core Aeration
is beneficial for most
lawns.
Lawns growing on heavy clay or sub-soils, and
lawns exposed to intense use, benefit from more than one aeration each year. In
general, benefits from core aeration increase when tine spacing is closer and
penetration is deeper. Most turf grasses respond favorably to aeration, when properly timed.
Both spring and fall are ideal times to aerate cool season turf grass, such as
Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass. In most cases, spring aeration is
performed between March and May, depending on location, turf grass species,
and intensity of use. Fall aeration is done in late summer and early fall,
usually between August and November. Aeration before, or at the time of late
season fertilization, enhances root growth responses and improves spring
green-up
and growth.
It is best to aerate warm season turf grasses such as Zoysia grass and Bermuda
grass in mid-spring to summer. Avoid aerating when warm season grasses
are dormant. This may encourage cool season weed competition. In addition, avoid
aerating warm season grasses during spring green-up. It is best not to aerate
warm season lawns until after they have received their first mowing in spring.
Although aeration is beneficial for lawns, it also can open up spaces for weeds,
such as crabgrass and annual bluegrass to invade the lawn. It is best to aerate
before you apply pre-emergence herbicides, rather than after. Aerating after a herbicide application can reduce the chemical barrier formed by the herbicide,
thereby allowing some weeds to germinate and grow in the lawn. Applying
fertilizer after aeration helps the lawn compete against weeds. Water the lawn
after aeration, particularly in areas where drought and high temperatures are
common.
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