How to Use a Lawn Aerator
Aerating your lawn has a plethora of benefits, especially as your lawn ages and endures heavy use from play, pets, parking and other vehicle traffic. Lawn aerators can reduce soil compaction, which increases the water, nutrients and oxygen in the soil. An aerator can also improve grass rooting, and prevent pesticide and fertilizer run-off. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Garden hose Lawn aerator Compost or fertilizer (optional) Grass seed (optional)
Instructions
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Use the lawn aerator in the spring or fall. Aerating in the spring is key for adding organic materials into the soil, and aerating in the fall gives your grass the extra space, water and air it needs for adequate root growth before becoming dormant in the winter.
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Mow your grass slightly shorter than normal and water it generously for two to three days prior to using the aerator.
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Mark all sprinkler heads, shallow lines from sprinklers, underground utilities, cable and septic lines before aerating.
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Aerate your lawn to break up clods. Aerate your lawn in two different directions. You can leave the soil plugs on the lawn surface when you're finished.
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Water your lawn immediately after aerating.
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Rake compost or topsoil fertilizer into the holes a few days after aerating your lawn. You can also seed your lawn right after aeration.
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Tips & Warnings
Use a lawn aerator that removes small soil plugs, not the types with solid spikes. These "spiking" aerators can actually contribute to the soil compaction instead of correcting it.
Don't aerate your lawn if the soil is overly wet or extremely dry. The lawn should be moist, but not waterlogged.
