Core aeration is one of the best turf practices you can apply to maintaining a healthy lawn. Core aeration is a process of mechanically removing plugs of thatch and soil from the lawn. Lawns need air, water, and nutrients and core aeration opens up the soil to receive these vital elements.
Core aeration helps reduce compaction that prevents water infiltration. There are many times that I am called to look at what appears to be an irrigation problem and turns out to be compacted soil not accepting water. The water either runs off or puddles on top of the ground and never makes it into the root zone.
Core aeration helps to reduce thatch and decrease stress that may occur during days of high heat, humidity, and or dry periods. The plugs that are removed from the turf are a combination of thatch and soil and will break down and decompose over 10 - 14 days. The soil from the plugs will help to modify the existing thatch left behind and will improve the overall soil at the surface.
The holes left by the core aeration machine will allow air, water, and nutrients into the root zone. If a good organic fertilizer and soil improving amendments are used then it will greatly enhance the bioactivity of the soil and your lawn will respond positively.
Core aeration is recommended 2 times per year in early spring and in September. The worse your soil the greater the benefit. Heavy clay soils, which are typical, for North Shore Long Island, respond very well to core aeration. The plugs we remove are extremely hard and dense and the holes left behind are a very good receptacle for air, water, and nutrients. I always recommend to top dress with sand or high quality top soil.
Turf grass roots respond very well to core aeration. Many studies have shown that roots will grow in thicker and deeper and in times of stress the lawn does improve because of this. Golf courses and athletic fields are core aerated regularly and top dress often.
If you want a healthy and green lawn, then this September is the time to make improvements. Once you have core aeration then the next step would be to seed. If you decide to invest in improving your lawn and landscape then I recommend that you have your soil tested to learn its makeup and replace deficiencies. Cornell cooperative extension, www.cce.cornell.edu, garden centers, and landscape providers all can provide the proper soil testing with an explanation on how to improve the soil.
The beauty of the core aeration is that with improved infiltration of air, water, and nutrients you get improved efficiency of all three and thereby reduce your overall costs. For more information or to arrange an appointment please call Rain Rich at 631-423-2211 or email us at rsilverman@rainrich.com.
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