Aeration And Seeding
As lawns age or sustain heavy use from play, sports activities, pets, vehicle traffic and parking, soil compaction can result. Soil compacting forces are most severe in poorly drained or wet sites. Compaction greatly reduces the pore space within the soil that would normally hold air. Roots require oxygen to grow and absorb nutrients and water. Compaction reduces total pore space and the amount of air within the soil. It has negative impact on nutrient uptake and water infiltration, in addition to being a physical barrier to root growth. This results in poor top growth and lawn deterioration.
- Increase the activity of soil microorganisms that decompose thatch.
- Increase water, nutrient and oxygen movement into soil
- Improve rooting of turfgrass
- Help prevent fertilizer and pesticide run-off from overly compacted areas.
- Enhance infiltration of rainfall or irrigation
Our Services
Before
This is the initial process for a new lawn area
During
After a few short weeks the lawn begins to respond
After
Once the lawn has had time to grow and fill in you are left with a beautiful lush green space
At Pro Grass, we recognize that lawn aeration is a fundamental practice for maintaining healthy turf. Aeration involves the mechanical removal of small soil plugs or cores from the lawn, typically using specialized machines equipped with hollow tines or spoons mounted on a disk or drum. This process, known as core aeration, extracts cores of soil measuring between 1/2 to 3/4 inches in diameter, which are deposited on the lawn surface.
The primary goal of core aeration is to alleviate soil compaction, a common issue in lawns subjected to heavy foot traffic or equipment use. Compaction restricts the movement of air, water, and nutrients within the soil, hindering root growth and overall turf health. By creating holes or channels in the soil, core aeration improves air circulation, enhances water infiltration, and promotes better nutrient uptake by the grass roots.
Core aeration holes typically penetrate the soil to depths ranging from 1 to 4 inches and are spaced 2 to 6 inches apart. This spacing ensures comprehensive coverage and effective alleviation of compaction across the lawn.
In addition to core aeration, Pro Grass places a strong emphasis on using the right equipment for each lawn’s specific needs. While a well-maintained and lush green lawn might appear healthy on the surface, soil beneath may still suffer from compaction and nutrient deficiencies. For established lawns, Pro Grass employs core aerators that pull 3 to 4-inch plugs, effectively reducing compaction and enhancing nutrient flow within the soil profile.
For lawns that are less established or require more intensive soil improvement, Pro Grass may recommend an aerovator. An aerovator is a specialized machine equipped with solid tines (rather than hollow) that penetrate the soil and mechanically “shatter” it. This action breaks up compacted soil layers, improves soil structure, and enhances root growth potential. The aerovator’s ability to vibrate or move laterally while penetrating the soil further aids in loosening compacted soil and preparing it for optimal seed germination and turf establishment.
Ultimately, whether through core aeration or aerovating, Pro Grass is committed to enhancing soil health, promoting lush and resilient turf, and ensuring that your lawn thrives throughout the seasons. Our approach is tailored to the unique needs of each lawn, providing effective solutions that deliver visible and long-lasting results.
The Pro Grass Approach
Lawn aeration involves the removal of small soil plugs or cores out of the lawn. Although hand aerators are available, most lawn aeration is done mechanically with a machine having hollow tines or spoons mounted on a disk or drum. Known as a core aerator, it extracts 1/2 to 3/4 inch diameter cores of soil and deposits them on your lawn. Lawn aeration holes are typically 1-4 inches deep and 2-6 inches apart. Other types of aerators push solid spikes or tines into the soil without removing a plug (spiking). These are not as effective because they can contribute to compaction. Core aeration is a recommended lawn care practice on compacted, heavily used turf and to control thatch buildup.
Since aeration is so important to turfgrass, Pro Grass Inc. strives to ensure using the right machine for the job. Different lawns may need different types of aeration. A well maintained, thick green lawn may look like it doesn’t need aeration, but below the soil surface may be compaction and a lack of nutrient flow. For well established lawns, Pro-Grass uses a core aerator to pull 3-4 inch plugs out of the soil, reducing the compaction and increasing the nutrient flow of the soil. For turf that isn’t well established, Pro-Grass Inc. may use an aerovator. An aerovator is a special type of machine that will “shatter” the soil. Equipped with 3-4 inch solid tines, this machine is driven by a ‘pto’ drive that enables the tines to not only penetrate the soil but also to shake left and right, ‘shattering’ the soil. This piece of machine is another very effective tool in relieving compaction, increasing nutrient flow, and preparing the soil for seeding.
