Timing
In general, if you see areas damaged from too much traffic
or if water puddles on your lawn or runs off without
soaking in, your soil may be compacted and you need to
aerate your lawn. Aerify your soil during the spring
when grasses are actively growing. Avoid aerifying during
the summer months when high temperatures may be detrimental
to lawns.
Frequency
The frequency of aeration depends on soil type, how the turfgrass
is used, and its expected appearance. Heavy clay soils
need to be aerated a couple of times a year while sandy
soils may only need aeration once a year. Lawns with very
high traffic may need to be aerated several times a year.
For lawns with little or no activity, aeration may not
be needed.
What to watch out for
If you are planning to apply preemergence herbicides, do
so after aerating. Otherwise, the herbicides will be removed
from the soil surface with the cores. |
