In this article, we will cover the end goal and the benefits of lawn aeration, diving into each of them and looking at how this can save you time, money and back breaking effort and give you a lawn you want to enjoy.
Better lawn drainage
Sprinkler
One of the most immediately tangible and predictable benefits is that your lawn will have better drainage. Unsurprisingly, putting hundreds of small holes in your lawn will enable the rain or water from your sprinkler or hose pipe to penetrate deeper into the turf where it sits between the grains of soil away from the dehydrating capabilities of the sun and wind. This gives better resistance to drought and dry spells.
The improved water level deeper in the soil will also stop pooling and puddling of water on the surface of the lawn and the potential for water logging and the creating a permanently damp environment where rotting material can cause disease in the grass. The final benefit of good drainage is the reduction in run off where heavy rain or watering can flush away the valuable top soil and all the nutrients it contains leaving fewer to sustain a healthy turf.
A well aerated soil will absorb and retain more water leading to a healthier turf with less requirement to sprinkle.
Better absorption of air and nutrients
As with the improved drainage, punching holes or removing cores from the turf will enable air and essential nutrients to get deeper into the turf and between the grains of soil. A compacted soil has had all the air and water pushed out from between the grains making it aninhospitable environment for the microfauna, such as bacteria and fungi, as well as the larger animals that promote a healthy ecosystem in the soil.
The other downside of a compacted soil is that it forms a hard and sometimes impenetrable barrier to the grasses roots leading to a more stunted root system or even a patch of earth where the grass cannot take root. These bare patches are common around heavily used areas near paths and where vehicles regularly roll over or are parked on the grass.
Having a properly aerated, looser soil will mean that you will need to use less lawn feed as more of what you spread over the lawn will be absorbed rather than washed away.
Robust grass roots
The net effect of better drainage and an improved path for air and nutrients to get into the soil is that you will start to promote a much more robust, deeper root system. A compacted turf with little water absorption tends to have roots that are shallow and only grow into the top layer of the soil. As there is little moisture stored here, they run the risk of drying out even in short periods of good weather so you will need to be vigilant and sprinkle often during the summer if you haven't aerated yet this year.
A properly aerated lawn will have a deeper root system that needs less regular watering as there will be a higher level of retained moisture deeper into the turf away from the sun and wind that can sustain the grass during a hot or dry spell. A well aerated turf that is mowed frequently also promotes vigorous growth where the grass can spread quickly into previously compacted or bare batches and even start to force out weeds which prefer not to have their tops cut off!
A well aerated, loose soil will encourage solid roots meaning you have to do less watering during hot or dry spells.
Improved grass mulching
As with the better absorption of lawn feed saving money, using a mulching lawn mower on a properly aerated lawn is a huge timesaver (less trips to the compost heap or tip) and can cut down on the amount of commercial lawn feed you have to use. A mulching mower finely cuts the blades of grass and instead of collecting them in a bag or bucket attached to the lawn mower, it spreads them out over the turf. Because the pieces of sliced very finely they sit in a thin layer next to the soil and even fall into the holes created when you aerate. The microfauna and worms can easily break this mulched grass down and in doing so release nutrients back into the soil to promote the next wave of grass growth.
Mulching on a freshly aerated lawn can save you time and money and reduce the amount of chemical fertilizer you need giving you a more organic lawn.
Fewer weeds
As the turf develops a more robust root system and receives an increased level of air, water and nutrients, it spurts into life, growing at an increased rate. Cutting little and often, taking the top third of the grass off along with the heads of any weeds or unwanted plants in the grass with it. Weeds are generally top growing and take longer to recover from being cut than grass, which grows from the bottom upwards and regular cutting encourages rapid regrowth. The net effect of these two different growth styles is that regular cutting helps to spread the grass into creating a thick bed at the expense of weeds and combined with scarification and aeration, can help an invaded lawn recover quickly.
Aeration and regular cutting saves on weed killer and helps to give a lusher, richer turf.
Increased fauna and flora, worms included!
All living things, bar the extremophiles at the bottom of the ocean, need three essential resources to survive - air, water and nutrients. A compacted soil drives the air and water out from between the grains of soil leaving a desert like environment for both the microfauna (bacteria and fungi) and the larger animals such as worms to live in. A lack of these creatures further compounds the problem as a healthy earthworm population consumes the decaying organic matter, helping to aerated the soil at a micro level and to return some of the locked up nutrients into the soil.
Bacteria are also required to breakdown the organic thatch that rests on top and within the soil and using a hollow tine aerator or other core or plug aerators can help bring the soil containing the bacteria to the surface where it spread amongst the thatch helping to speed the process of decay and nutrient reclaim.
Lawn aeration lets the soil breathe and gives a healthy population of bacteria and animals that return nutrients to the soil reducing the risk of disease and the need for expensive lawn feed.
More lush grass
Everyone wants better drainage and tospend less time watering the lawn as well as to do less work clearing and scarifying the weeds and thatch that are left behind after mowing or via the natural cycles. Lawn aeration, whether it is every time you mow by wearing some lawn aeration shoes, a hollow tine aerator or a mechanical aerator can help you to save time, effort and money and give you a more beautiful and more organic lawn. Get started now and get your lawn aerator to start saving and spend more time enjoying.
Summary
Use a lawn aerator to help you to
use less water
buy less lawn feed
spend less time scarifying and on lawn care
use less weed killer
save time by using a mulching mower efficiently
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