To Aerate or Not to Aerate
Mechanical Aeration is ineffective with our soils
I take numerous calls about aeration because some golf courses do it and in other parts of the country, it can be an aid in breaking down soil compaction. First, let me say I don’t believe it can cause harm unless done during drought conditions. So, if it feels good to you, go for it. If you really want to help your lawn and save money at the same time, learn how to mow your lawn properly. In short:
- Cut at least 3 ½ inches high (Check out Mowing Basics)
- Mulch at least as much as you can
- Hope the treatment people you are hiring are doing their part
If anyone has mechanically aerated as I did myself some 30 years ago before I learned better, you have a lawn covered with little plugs of soil that never seem to go away unless they are stuck to the bottom of your foot. After running the machine, if you put your little finger in the hole, it will go in about 2 inches, if they did a good job. In a week you will find that those holes are closed and if there was any thing accomplished it was done in that period of time.
Big and Small Holes
Note that if you are digging a percolation hole for a septic tank you have to be very careful that the post hole digger does not glaze the outside of the hole by forcing its way through our clay. If you do that you have created a hole that will hold water for days, not hours and be in trouble. Every hole made by an aeration machine glazes the hole as the machine forces its way into the soil. It's simply the same thing you do when you glaze the hole with a post hole digger, just in a much smaller way.
Let's consider then that we make a hole that lasts a week or two, that does not allow water to escape and what do we have? A perfect way for a lawncare company to not hurt your lawn but make money selling aeration services. Aeration is not as good as using a slit seeder but there is some validity in seeding into established turf using aeration.