What is Lawn Aeration?
When performed in the correct conditions, Lawn Aeration creates small fissures in the soil which are perfect for enhanced root growth and nutrient availability in the soil - making the very most of lawn treatments.
Aeration is a frequently performed task in sports turf settings for this reason, so carrying this out on your lawn at least once per year will be of great benefit to the overall health and look of your lawn.
How do we carry out Lawn Aeration?
Lawn Aeration is a mechanical lawn care process. A machine with spikes is moved across a lawn, penetrating the soil to a depth which can vary from 50 - 125mm dependent on the given machine, soil conditions and objectives.
This process is better than using a garden fork to spike a lawn, as professional Aeration machines allow for consistent tine spacing and depths, and is much more efficient in terms of time and effort spent.
Furthermore, a garden fork can actually increase soil compaction, serving only to displace the soil sideways and downwards which may actually contribute to the problems facing your lawn. On the other hand, when used in the correct conditions, a professional lawn Aeration machine gently heaves the soil behind it, creating additional air pockets in the soil and reducing compaction.
Which tines should be used? Common tines for lawn aeration include:
- Hollow-Tines - These remove cores of soil for aggressive aeration, reducing compaction and for soil exchange.
- Solid / Pencil-Tines - These are ideal prior to Overseeding, providing a vast number of holes for seed and new grass roots.
- Slit / Chisel / Fracture-Tines - These heavyweight tines have a greater surface area for maximum gaseous exchange from the aeration process, but may only be suitable through winter months.
When to carry out Lawn Aeration?
Lawns can be aerated throughout the summer provided the tines used are not too aggressive and irrigation can be supplied.
Spring, autumn and winter are also ideal times to aerate lawns, provided this avoids waterlogged or frozen conditions.
Why carry out Lawn Aeration?
Lawn Aeration is an important cultural process for any lawn. Over time, soils can become compacted, and through stressful weather conditions, grass root growth can suffer. Without any mechanical processes, we are dependent on lawn treatments to maintain our lawns which is not what we would deem sustainable practice.
The most important nutrients to our lawns and soils will always be those in the air. A healthy lawn should be made up of 45% air space for the best possible root development, nutrient availability and for the best possible drainage properties. A healthy lawn will have a mix of macro (small air pockets) and micro pores (very small air pockets).
Lawn Aeration increases the amount of air space in your lawn, creating both macro and micro pores for air, which aids and encourages the development of a healthy soil and root structure, and also maintaining surface drainage.
Aeration also helps in preventing disease outbreak, excessive moss, and localised dry patch (hydrophobic soil conditions). We aerate lawns as part of our Lawn Repair and Renovation service, as well as Scarifying and Overseeding.