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Everything To Know About Lawn Aeration And Its Benefits

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Also known as core aeration, spiking, or coring, lawn aeration is the mechanical process of removing unnecessary soil and thatch from the lawn to help in its growth. It helps improve the exchange of air between the lawn and the surrounding atmosphere, reduces water pudding and runoffs, and increases the stress and drought tolerance of the grass. But that’s not all. Lawn aeration is basically the most important thing your garden needs to grow in its full capacity, healthily. 

Let’s give you a holistic idea of lawn aeration to help you take better care of your garden. 

What is spiking so important for the grass?

In most homes, the topsoil in the garden is generally washed away or buried during excavation or construction, leaving the more compact subsoil for the grass to grow. The landscape experts at HydroDynamicsCorp.com opine that this subsoil can get more compact with running and playing in the lawn, mowing, and irrigation. The clay can get stickier after a period of heavy rainfall as well. 

The compact soil prevents the grassroots from growing at their full capacity and making the most of available fertilizers. That’s when aeration comes to their rescue. It helps reduce soil compaction so that the roots can reach deeper and get all the water and fertilizer content that they need for healthy growth and development. As the healthier your grasses are, the more beautiful your lawn will be. 

When should you aerate the lawn?

It depends on the type of grass in your lawn. If you have warm-season grass like the Zoysiagrass, you should aerate the soil in the middle of spring or summer. Refrain from aerating it in the dominant season, as it increases the chances of weed growth. Wait for the first spring mowing before going ahead with the coring. 

However, cold season grasses, like the perennial ryegrass or the Kentucky bluegrass should be aerated in the fall or early spring. This makes the most of the late-season fertilization process and produces lush green grasses in spring. Regarding the frequency, you should aerate the lawn at least twice in a year, if it’s used extensively. Commercial areas, like golf fields, racecourses, or other sports turf must be spiked more often, at least 4-5 times a year. 

Fertilize before or after aeration?

It’s best to fertilize the lawn after coring it thoroughly to improve weed control. If you spread herbicides or fertilizers before aeration, the chemical barriers formed by them may get removed, thus increasing the chances of weed growth. You should also water the grass after coring, especially in the drought-prone areas. 

Is that all? Well, no!

  • Mark the areas having irrigation heads, shallow pipes, wiring, or valve boxes with red flags to prevent damages 

  • Make sure the grass is a little moist during aeration to ensure better penetration

  • Don’t mow the lawn at least for 2-4 weeks after coring to help the grassroots grow deeper 

  • Don’t overuse chemicals, like herbicides and fertilizers after aeration and help the grassroots grow naturally 

If you’re not an expert gardener, you may miss on such intricate details and end up making costly mistakes. Hence, it’s best to abide by the instructions of the professionals, who will do the job for you. Ask them as many questions as you need and get all your doubts clarified to take better care of your lawn post-aeration. 

5 Tips to Deter Intruders

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The holiday season is upon us. It’s a time for coming together and celebrating, giving and receiving gifts, and being thankful and grateful for what we have. Unfortunately, it is also a time when we are susceptible to being victims of crime. Read on how to make the holiday season remembered for all the right reasons.

  1. Recycle

Yes, you read it correctly, and you may be questioning how your recycling can affect your potential for being a victim of crime. The cardboard boxes that you leave out on the curb for the recycling collection are a very clear indicator to people that you have recently had a whole lot of new equipment that is a prime target for intruders. Break up your cardboard boxes into smaller pieces so that they fit in bins.

  1. Light up

Install LED flood lights from E-conolight into your garden or yard so that your outside space is adequately lit. Pay attention to doorways and any dark passageways or vulnerable areas. Not only are you burglar proofing your outside space, but making it safer for you to use the space in the dark too. Invest in some timers for lamps for inside your home, so that they come on when it gets dark. Don’t light up your living spaces as this will just illuminate the fact the house is empty; instead, opt for lamps in hallways of upstairs rooms that will give the illusion of someone being home.

  1. Landscape

Don’t be tempted to leave your garden or yard to become neglected over winter. Just because you are not outside enjoying it like you do in milder seasons, it does not mean that you should allow it to become unkempt. Unkempt gardens provide ideal hiding places for intruders to watch your home from. Try to mow the lawn once again before winter becomes too harsh: people equate long grass lawns with homes whose occupants have gone away on vacation. Keep items such as ladders locked away in a garage or storage to prevent any opportunistic robbers from being able to access your home – they tend not to bring their own!

  1. Mirror, mirror on the wall

Mirrors are essential accessories for any interior; however, check what view your mirror can provide an outside inquisitive intruder. Can they see whether your security system is activated by looking in the mirror? Or, perhaps they can see the car keys on the console table? Step outside and look through the windows to examine what your mirror reflects, it may be more than you had hoped. Cut to size mirrors can help avoid the scenario where the current mirror is offering a view for potential intruders, fitting to dimensions that suit your house layout.

  1. If you can’t make it, fake it

From the street, an intruder will not be able to tell whether your CCTV cameras are real or dummy, and nor will they hang around to test it! You can also purchase decals of a fake alarm system to deter opportunistic thieves further. Another great trick to use is for your neighbors to leave footprints in the driveway and around the yard if it snows while you are away.

People rob houses as and when they see fit – if the right circumstances are aligned. They will not enter a home or property if they consider that the chances of getting caught are high. Use these tips to reduce the chances of your home being targeted so that you can enjoy the rest of the holiday season in peace.