Lawn Aeration
Lawn aeration is essential for a thriving lawn, reducing soil compaction and improving root access to air, water, and nutrients for healthier growth.
Get an estimate!Call 07834 672 143Why do lawns need to be aerated?
Lawn aeration is the process of piercing the ground with small, long holes or slits so that air, water and nutrients can penetrate beneath the surface.
The primary reason for aerating is to reduce soil compaction. Soil compaction can occur when your lawn has been subjected to heavy foot traffic, which causes the particles in the soil to compress and prevents the adequate circulation of air, water and nutrients within the soil. The compaction layer of heavy soil can seriously impede the growth of the grass roots so this must be broken up by aeration.
What happens when a lawn is aerated?
When a lawn is aerated, solid or hollow spikes, known as tines, are pushed into the ground at a depth of at least three inches. This breaks up the soil, meaning that water, nutrients and air can now get to the roots. It is important to aerate your lawn in both Spring and Autumn. During times of drought, the roots will die if they are starved of water.
On the other hand, the ground surface in the winter will become affected by puddling, runoff, moss and thatch if rain cannot percolate into the soil. Furthermore, by opening up the soil and reducing compaction, fertiliser nutrients can penetrate deeper into the rootzone.
As well as relieving soil compaction, aeration leads to a gaseous exchange, allowing oxygen, which is vital for root growth, to enter the compacted layer of soil and for harmful carbon dioxide, which impedes the passage of water into the roots, to be released from it.
What are the different types of aeration?
Hollow Tine
Hollow tine aeration is a lawn care technique where small cylindrical plugs of soil are removed from the lawn to improve its health and structure. This process involves using hollow tines that are pressed into the lawn, creating holes in the soil. Each tine extracts a small plug of soil, which is then deposited on the lawn's surface.
This method helps to alleviate soil compaction, allowing air, water, and nutrients to penetrate more effectively into the root zone. By reducing compaction, grass roots can grow deeper and stronger, leading to a healthier and more resilient lawn. Additionally, hollow tine aeration enhances drainage, reducing waterlogging and promoting better soil structure over time. The plugs left on the surface gradually break down, returning organic matter and nutrients back into the lawn.
Fracture Tine
Fracture tine aeration is a mechanical process used to improve soil health and lawn quality by cutting large slits into the ground. This technique uses specialised tines with a twisting blade that act like small spades. As the tines penetrate the soil, they fracture it and create channels that allow air, water, and nutrients to reach the grass roots more effectively.
This method is particularly beneficial for heavily compacted soils, as it helps to break up dense layers without removing any soil. By loosening the ground, it promotes deeper root growth, enhancing the overall strength and resilience of the lawn. Additionally, fracture tine aeration improves water infiltration, reducing surface runoff and helping moisture reach deeper layers of soil. Over time, this process encourages a more balanced soil structure, leading to healthier grass with improved resistance to drought and other environmental stresses.
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