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You want to aerate the lawn when your grass is in its peak growing period so it can recover quickly—think early spring or fall for cool-season grasses, and late spring through early summer for warm-season grasses. If you have high-traffic areas or heavy clay soil, you will want to aerate every year.
What month Should I aerate my lawn?
When should you aerate cool-season grasses and warm-season grasses? The trick is to aerate right before overseeding. The best time to have lawn care services aerate your lawn in Midwest locations is usually around August or September. In warmer states, aerate in late spring or early summer.
When should you not aerate your lawn?
Spring is not the ideal time to aerate the lawn, but circumstances may require it. If the soil is so compacted that existing grass can’t grow, it may be necessary to aerate in the spring. 1 Generally, though, spring aerating is discouraged because the aeration holes provide a perfect spot for weed seeds to germinate.
When Should I aerate my lawn UK?
There are two ideal times for lawn aeration in the UK, one is in spring and the other is in autumn. These are the seasons when the soil is usually naturally moist and is suitable for holes to be poked into it easily. Most people prefer to aerate their lawn in spring as it coincides with the growing season of the grass.
Is aerating your lawn worth it?
Is lawn aeration necessary? Almost all lawns will benefit from aeration, and a great lawn demands it. That said, most lawns do not need it. Lawns suffering from heavy foot traffic, excessive thatch (>1 inch thick) or grown on heavy soils will benefit most.
Should I aerate or dethatch first?
Excess thatch blocks out air, light and water from reaching root zones. Dethatching and aeration services go hand in hand. Dethatch first, then aerate.
Can you aerate too much?
Loose soil doesn’t need to be aerated very often. Especially thick types of grass may also call for aerating more frequently. As a general rule, you shouldn’t need to aerate more than once a year at any time (“too much of a good thing” applies here, since you don’t want to damage your soil).
Should you seed after aerating?
Within 48 hours after you aerate you should over seed, fertilize, and water your lawn. The seed, fertilizer, and water will have the best chance to get down into the holes made by the aerator if applied soon after aeration. If the fertilizer contains weed control, your grass seed won’t germinate properly.
Should I mow lawn before aerating?
Before you aerate, mow your lawn low (Timberline lawn experts recommend setting your mower to about 1.5-2 inches above the ground to maximize the effectiveness of aerating, being sure to not scalp the crown of the grass.) This is because the soils must be moist when you aerate to help the machine penetrate the soil.
Should you aerate in the spring?
If you’re looking to aerate in the spring, the best time would be between March and May. While we recommend aerating your lawn in the fall, spring core aeration may be beneficial if your turf is so compacted it refuses to grow.
Can I use a pitchfork to aerate my lawn?
You can aerate a lawn with many different tools. The most inexpensive way is with a pitchfork or spading fork. This tool is most useful for aerating smaller areas. Simply punch holes as deep as possible in the turf layer and then rock the fork to enlarge the holes.
When should I scarify and aerate my lawn?
Scarifying your lawn Scarification does not need to be done as frequently as aeration. We recommend scarifying your lawn for the first time each year in spring after the last frost. This will freshen up your grass after the cold winter months. Repeat the process a second time in autumn.
Can I aerate my lawn with a garden fork?
For small lawns, a normal garden fork will be all right to aerate your lawn. Just push it in between four or five inches deep and pull back, so the grass lifts a little. Pull it back out, move back about six inches, and then do exactly the same again.
Is it OK to aerate a wet lawn?
You can aerate a lawn when it is wet provided that it is not excessively wet. Lawn aeration involves making small holes on a lawn’s surface at regular intervals and moist soil helps the process. However, depending on the soil type, excessive moisture can hamper the process.
How long does it take to see results from aeration?
After your lawn is aerated, be patient. You probably won’t see instant results. While root growth and the overall health of your lawn begin to improve immediately following aeration, visual results typically come after two or three aerations.
Should I pick up plugs after aerating?
Those aeration plugs are vital to the health of your lawn. Resist the urge to “clean” the lawn after it’s been aerated, and whatever you do, don’t remove the plugs.
Can you walk on lawn after aeration?
You can’t walk on the lawn after aeration because the seeds and fertilizer need time to settle, and the soil could get too compact. Walking or mowing on a freshly-aerated lawn can prevent the seeds from sprouting and the soil from getting enough oxygen and nutrients.
What is another word for aerate?
In this page you can discover 24 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for aerate, like: ventilate, aerify, oxygenise, wind, charge, breath, oxygenize, inflate, activate, air-out and cross-ventilate.
