Don't Hesitate When its time to Aerate

	Aeration plugs, or cores of the grass are what allow the air and fertilizer t penetrate the grass providing for a much greener lawn.
	Operated aerators allow for bigger specific areas to be aerated at a faster rate, such as baseball fields, or soccer fields.
	Aerators are used to open up compacted soil and allow for increased absorption.

Aeration is a landscaping method that “supplies the soil with air”. This technique was designed to preserve and improve lawns. Aeration enhances the lawn appearance, usability, and its ability to absorb water from irrigation.

Grass roots need air as well as water and fertilizer. The grass can actually poison itself as a result of the various chemical processes that occur in the individual grass plants if the grass roots do not have enough air.

Soil that lacks sufficient air can result in:

1. Slow growth in the affected grass.
2. Excess irrigation runoff due to poor permeability.
3. Shallow root systems.
4. A lawn that's highly susceptible to insects, disease, and heat damage.

Soil compaction is the most common example of soil deficiency in air. The growth habits of grass in compacted soil are shallow root development, a substantial decrease in the number of grass plants per square foot, and an inability to properly use applied fertilizers.

Soil compaction in lawns is caused primarily by pedestrian traffic, whether it is children playing in a playground or people taking shortcuts across a lawn. Stopping the use of the affected lawns is generally impractical. A better solution would be frequent aeration and, depending upon the composition of the soil, the application of lawn and garden amendments such as peat, sand, or gypsum.

The benefits of aeration are an increase in the:

1. Growth rate of the grass, thus an improvement in its ability to withstand and
   recover from pedestrian use.
2. Ability of water and fertilizer to enter the grass roots.
3. Root growth activity contributing to the strength and health of the grass.
4. Ability of bacteria present in the soil to break down and decompose the hatch. layer, thus increasing the soils’ ability to hold sufficient amounts of moisture between waterings.
5. Grass's ability to withstand low water situations and heat stress.
   

Aeration is a technique best applied in spring, late summer or early fall for cool season grasses and in the spring for warm season grasses. This can also be a good time to overseed and topdress/amend the aerated lawn.

If you have a severely damaged lawn or a lawn area that undergoes heavy and frequent use, you might consider aerating these areas several times throughout the year.

Randy Newhard is President and Founder of New Way Landscape & Tree Services, a full-service landscape maintenance and tree care contractor serving commercial, industrial and multifamily housing in San Diego County for 24 years. New Way also provides sports turf management for all athletic venues. (858) 505-8300 www.newwaypro.com

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