Lawn Aeration And Seeding Tips

The purpose of lawn aeration and seeding is to achieve an attractive lawn, increase property value, enhance comfort, have a great relaxation area and achieve a professional look. Aeration creates ways for nutrients, water, and oxygen to get to the grass’s root zone. It helps reduce compaction as well as reducing the accumulation of thatch. Seeding helps to thicken bare and thin areas of the lawn. It does also help by introducing a variety of improved grass to your existing ones.

The best season to aerate your lawn is fall or spring. During this time, you are required to add fertilizer and over-seed the lawn. Aeration offers a lot of benefits which includes; soil softening, root growth promotion, and better penetration of water, air, and nutrients. In a nutshell, aeration leaves the ground soft and moist. It is advisable to seed your lawn after winter; meaning during spring.

Well, all-in-all, to have a perfect lawn, you will need to follow proper aeration and seeding techniques. For this reason, the tips below will help you understand how to go about the whole process, without the help of an expert.

If you look at your lawn and notice that it is looking unhealthy and water has difficulty penetrating, then it is time to consider aeration. This technique is the solution to this problem. Clay soiled lawns, and those that experience heavy traffic of vehicles and people are especially notorious for needing aeration from time to time because they become compacted over a period.

To determine that your lawn needs aeration, dig a square foot section of the grass using a shovel, and it should be about six inches deep. If the grassroots do not extend further deep into the ground, then you will benefit from aeration.

Aeration is a technique that involves puncturing the soil with small holes with the aim of allowing nutrients, water, and air to penetrate to the roots. This technique helps roots penetrate deep into the ground to produce a stronger and attractive lawn.

The fact is that there are different techniques to aerate the soil. These aeration methods can be divided into three categories, which are:
1. Manual Aeration Techniques

Manual aeration techniques are very common to residential areas or areas with smaller lawn spaces. These are spaces that do not present overwhelming work like in commercial garden spaces. This method is considered affordable since it does not require the use of any specific machinery. Manual aeration can be done using:

• Aerator Shoes
• Hand-Help Aerators and others

2. Power Or Machinery Aeration Method

Power aeration method is a technique that applies specialized powered tools to aerate the soil. They can be in the form of a lawnmower used for a specific task of softening the soil. The most commonly used variety power aerator is the lawn plug aerator because they appear identical to a conventional lawnmower.

3. The Mulching Aeration

This technique is mainly applied after basic level aeration has been completed. The aeration time offers a perfect opportunity to feed the soil with essential nutrients. For this purpose, mulching lawnmowers are used. They work by cutting or shredding the grass into fine pieces and spread them across the garden. This technique ensures that the appropriate number of microbes are maintained within the soil.

Before aerating your lawn, it is important to water it for about two days. Experts recommend watering at least 1 inch of water to the grass. You can measure this by using an empty tuna can; by placing it in the middle of the watering zone. When the can is full, then you have applied one inch of water to the grass. This process aims to soften the surface to help the aerator to penetrate easily. Ensure that you have flagged the lawn irrigation system and other important objects to avoid damaging them.

The second tip is to use the aerator in a pattern, in such a way that you will have covered an area just once. Lastly, apply compost or sand over the aerated lawn. Doing this makes the lawn look beautiful after the process. However, it is important to note that this method is not that important because, after two-four weeks, the soil core will break naturally.

Even well-maintained lawns can thin due to weather factors, soil, grass diseases or insect infestation. For this reason, badly damaged gardens need to be rebuilt. This is where seeding comes in. Furthermore, seeding can be used after aeration.

There are three categories or methods of seeding, which are:

• Spot Seeding
• Renovation Seeding
• Overseeding

The method that is right for you mainly depends on the condition of your field. However, no matter the kind of seeding technique you prefer, specific tips or rules must be followed when seeding a lawn.

1. Always use high-quality seeds
2. The seed must make good contact with the soil
3. Always use a seeding system that is right for your turf
4. Consider the season before seeding
5. Always keep the seeds moist until you have germination
6. Avoid any weed control methods until you have mowed the grass new growing grass about 4 or 5 times.

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