Core
Aeration -
Lawns (especially sodded lawns) should be aerated 1-2 times a
year or at least every other year to establish the root system
and break down thatch. This will improve air exchange between
soil and atmosphere, enhance water intake, improve fertilizer
use, make turfgrass more resistant to fungus and disease, stimulate
turfgrass rooting, enhance heat and drought resistance, and speed
up thatch breakdown. |
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Although
a thin layer of thatch is beneficial, it should not exceed
1/2 inch. Excess thatch blocks out air, light and water
from reaching the root zones. This problem is typical of
sodded lawns and helps cause fungus. |
Core aeration usually reduces thatch accumulation to healthy
levels. |
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In
most homes, the natural soil has been seriously disturbed by the
building process. Fertile topsoil may have been removed or buried
during excavation of the basement or footings, leaving subsoil
that is more compact, higher in clay content and less desirable
for healthy lawn growth. These lawns need aeration to improve
the depth and extent of turfgrass rooting and improve fertilizer
and water use. Intensely used lawns are exposed to stress from
traffic injury. Walking, playing, and mowing are forms of traffic
that comact soil particles and reduce large air spaces where roots
are ready to grow. |
