Lawn Aeration 

 

     

 

 

 

Lawn Aeration

 

Aeration is a process that revitalizes your lawn’s root system by exposing it to air, water, and nutrients. Over time, the soil underneath your lawn becomes compacted and hard. As you water and fertilize your lawn throughout the spring, summer and fall, the roots beneath the surface finger out in search of nutrients. If your soil is compacted, this is nearly impossible. What is the result? Grass roots that cannot grow downward vertically end up taking the path of least resistance and growing in a horizontal fashion. This would not be such a bad thing if it was only one blade growing, but with all the roots doing this, it creates a thick, shallow carpet of roots sucking energy from a small area of soil.  

 

The typical depth of a weak, shallow root system may be two to four inches. With a thick, shallow carpet of roots, not only is the plant structure weak, but it also is a breeding ground for hungry insects such as grub worms. On the contrary, if the soil is loose and fluffy, the roots from your grass take a vertical path and only occupy the space directly below them. The more nutrients they gather on their journey, the stronger and healthier they become. The healthier the plant becomes, the more surface space it occupies, and the less there is room for other undesirable weeds such as dandelions, to invade.  

 

The main benefit of core aeration is direct exposure of the turf roots. Core aeration should be done early in the morning if possible, to increase the duration of sunlight exposure. It should be followed directly by fertilization and watering. This will give your roots a direct dose of sunlight, nutrients, and water.  A combination of core aeration in the spring and fall with the use of a Healthy Lawn Care Fertilization Program throughout the growing season will yield the best results for your lawn. If you practice this routine for multiple years, you can decrease the frequency of aeration applications, and eventually curtail the cost. Your grass will be green on top because it is getting the nitrogen it needs. Your roots will be hearty and deep below the surface because they will have the fluffy soil they need, and the lawn will require little use of chemicals for weed and insect control because with the lush, thick stand you have created, the bugs and dandelions will have no place to live or grow.
 

Thatch in your lawn?  

The accumulation of thatch over time prevents water and other nutrients from getting through to the roots of your lawn. Accumulation of thatch, like the compacted soil, also gives insects a great place to hide.  However, a light layer of thatch, one-fourth to one-half inches deep, is actually beneficial to your lawn. It protects the soil from changing temperatures and adds to the resilience of the lawn, which means when you step on it, it springs back instead of compacting the soil. 

  

De-thatching is really unnecessary unless the thickness of the thatch has reach 1" or more.  If your thatch is a thickness less than 1", the best solution is aeration.  If the thatch is over 1", then you would want to de-thatch using an iron rake or a power-rake or dethatching machine.

 

D.A. Alexander offers lawn aeration in Ann Arbor, Brighton, South Lyon, Plymouth, Canton, Livonia, Novi, Northville, Farmington Hills, Bloomfield Hills and Surrounding Areas. Call us right now to see how we can make your lawn look amazing!