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Soil condition will affect the aerator's tine depth and effectiveness of aeration. In hard or dry soils, water the ground the night before to soften the lawn and make it easier for the tines to enter the ground.
AERATING PRICES FOR 2010: $44.99 (for up to 3,000 sq.ft.)
Add $20 to lift machine up 5 steps
Add $10 if we have to flag underground sprinkler heads
Add $10 to service Eastside
Benefits of Lawn Aeration
Lawn Aeration is one of the most important things you can do to get and keep a healthy lawn. The type of aeration that I perform is called “core aeration.” I remove little plugs of soil from your lawn. This brings air down to the root zone and releases trapped gases. The length of the plug can be up to 3” long, depending upon your soil conditions.
All those little plugs you see lying on your lawn break down and feed microorganisms that help reduce thatch production. Each one of those little plugs represents a hole that is left in your lawn. That hole actually acts as a reservoir that holds water and helps cut your watering cost. Also, each of those little holes becomes an individual germinating chamber when aeration is combined with overseeding in Spring and Fall. If you don’t like all those plugs laying on your lawn, you can always use a rotary lawnmower to break them up.
Aeration is usually performed twice a year on heavily compacted soil such as lawns that have sod laid over heavy clay. Generally lawns that have a lot of sand in the soil only need aeration once a year.
Aeration can be used to improve your existing soil by bringing in organic mulch and raking it into the holes. When the mulch breaks down, organic matter is then introduced to the clay to nourish and enrich the soil, which then encourages worms and strong root growth.
Many people ask me about adding sand after aeration. DO NOT ADD SAND! Golf courses have a mobile lab that comes out four times a year to analyze their soil composition. They know exactly what they need to do to improve their soil over time. When a homeowner haphazardly adds sand after aeration, big problems can occur. If you have clay and add sand, sand + clay = cement! This is why I say add organic material and you will build a healthy soil profile.
Most homeowners mark their sprinkler systems before my arrival. This way I don’t destroy your sprinkler heads. I usually have irrigation flags with me that I can leave with you for future visits. Many people just use bamboo stakes or sticks the first time I visit.
Once again, the benefits of Lawn Aeration include:
- Improves air to the roots
- Promotes deeper root growth
- Saves on your watering bill
- Helps the seed germinate and become established
- Stimulates beneficial microorganisms
- Breaks up hardpan soil
- Creates a lush, thick, healthy lawn
I hope this article helps you to understand the aerating process that will rejuvenate and revitalize your lawn.
Keeping Washington Green... One Lawn at a Time
Stewart Armour
Owner/Operator
Click to enlarge picture of aerated lawns:
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