WHAT IS AERATION?

The basic idea behind aeration is perfectly simple. Holes or slits are created so that air, water & nutrients can penetrate beneath the surface.

This definition is perhaps the only simple thing about aeration. The basic purpose of driving air channels deep into the turf is to break through the compaction layer which occurs at about two or three inches beneath the surface. It is not always there - it builds up when the soil particles are squeezed together by heavy traffic - children's feet around a play area, the central strip of a pathway, and so on. This compaction layer in heavy soil will seriously damage the grass and so you must break into it by means of aerating.

Aerating consists of driving solid or hollow spikes (technically known as tines) into the surface to a depth of at least three inches. A vital air exchange takes place - Oxygen, so vital for root growth, gets into the compacted layer, and carbon dioxide, so harmful as it inhibits the passage of water into the roots, escapes. There is more to it than just air exchange - water can now get down to the roots and this is important in both summer and winter. In times of drought, the roots will die if starved of water - in winter the surface will become affected by puddling, runoff, moss, and thatch if rain cannot percolate into the soil. Opening the soil up and relieving compaction also allows fertiliser nutrients to get deeper into the rootzone.

There are two different types of aeration we use and they are

Fracture tine - Fracture tine aeration is a mechanical process that involves cutting large slits into the lawn. With the twist of the blade, the tines act as a small spade, fracturing the soil and adding air. No soil is removed during this process so no unsightly cores are left on the lawn.

Hollow tine - Hollow tine aeration is the process of taking small cylindrical plugs from the lawn. Hollow tines are pressed into the lawn, and a small plug of soil is ejected by each tine. The plug is then deposited on the surface of the lawn. Hollow tine aeration is best used on thatchy lawns.

If you would like to book in aeration please get in touch.