Core Aeration
A critical part of lawn maintenance.
What is Core Aeration?
Core aeration is the process of pulling actual soil cores out of the lawn. This is done using a machine similar to a lawn mower, but instead of cutting blades, it has a drum covered with very sharp hollow ‘tubes’ or cylinders that cut through the turf and soil, removing ‘cores’ (little plugs that look like dog duty) of soil.
When to Aerate
Aerations can be done at any time, although, spring and fall are most popular. The ground must be moist but not muddy and during the spring and fall it is easier to maintain the proper moisture for a good aeration. At 4 Seasons Lawn Care we prefer early spring and late fall because of the convenience for the customer. Walking on the cores/plugs is very difficult so if they are done very early or very late the customer is less likely to be on the lawn.
The Cores/Plugs
It is highly recommended to leave these to break down naturally as they provide much needed organic material for the soil.
Benefits
Core aerations provide many benefits:
- Loosens the soil to accept water much more efficiently and roots can push through to grow.
- Allows air to the root zone promoting root growth, and the healthier the root zone the healthier the grass above.
- Controls the thatch so it doesn’t grow out of control or mat choking the lawn.
- Healthy thatch helps to prevent disease and control moisture loss.
Tidbits
- Clay based soils which we experience all along the ‘front range’ from Montana to New Mexico, compact choking the roots.
- Over time, if the roots continue to be choked, they will die which leads to a thinning lawn.
- Thin lawns cannot protect against weeds, stress, and disease. Also, thin lawns require much more water than a thick lawn.
- Thatch is good, trust us, but needs to be ‘cut’ through to keep it from becoming a nasty mat of material. Aerating at least once a year will keep the thatch zone healthy.
- Power raking or dethatching is almost never recommended. Imagine someone trying to brush your tangled hair with an electric metal hair brush. It would tear the hair and hurt. It does the same thing to your lawn. In 30 years, 4 Seasons Lawn Care has only recommended power raking twice because those lawns were very abused.
