The tines just leave ‘dimples’ in the lawn surface.” This method will also not help dethatch your lawn. “It does open up some pores, but it’s not that beneficial because it compacts soil to the sides and bottom of the hole. Solid tine aerators “actually compress the soil,” says Waltz. While they will make holes in your lawn, they're far less effective. Solid-tine aerators poke into the soil using gravity to punch holes straight down. This type of aerator has no engine, but is instead pulled behind a riding mower or pushed across the lawn. They consist of solid pieces of metal, like the tines on a fork. Spike aerators (also called solid tine aerators) do not work nearly as well. (Side note: If dethatching is one of your goals, don’t leave the cores to decompose, says Waltz. This thatch also inhibits air and water movement. This method also helps remove thatch, the brown layer of undecomposed grass and plant material that the grass grows up through. The small holes left in the lawn allow more oxygen to get to the roots. These plugs can be left to decompose or raked up and removed. An engine drives the tines into the soil, pulls up the plugs, and deposits them on the lawn surface. These types of aerators have hollow tines that sink into the soil and lift out small, rounded plugs a few inches long. Without question, a core aerator (also called a hollow-tine aerator) is better for your lawn, says Waltz. There are generally two kinds of aerators for sale: spike aerators and core aerators. But if you have to work to sink the screwdriver into the lawn, it’s probably time to aerate, says Waltz. If it’s easy to do, your lawn is probably okay. There’s no one-size-fits all guide, but lawn care experts tend to recommend aerating every few years, especially if you have heavy soil or lots of activity on the lawn such as kids playing, pets running along a fence line, or vehicle traffic.Īn easy test is to take a screwdriver and try to push it into the ground about 3 to 4 inches deep - the depth which most grass roots grow. Here’s everything else to know about when and how to aerate your lawn: How can I tell if my lawn needs aerated? “Aeration opens up the soil and creates large pores for air to fill so that roots can breathe, which stimulates new growth.” “Over time, soil becomes compacted, which limits the amount of oxygen accessible to the roots of grass,” says Clint Waltz, PhD, turfgrass specialist at the University of Georgia College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences. Ideally, soil should contain a balance of small pores that hold water and large pores that hold oxygen. Understanding what aeration is-and why your lawn benefits- requires a quick refresher on soil science. (Tired of gas? These are the electric lawn mowers we recommend.) Let’s be honest: Growing a beautiful lawn takes effort.īesides mowing, watering your lawn and choosing the best types of grasses, your turf also requires aeration.
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