The secret to a healthy, lush lawn is aeration or coring. While you could add fertiliser or mulch around the lawn to encourage growth, aeration or coring is also something that you need to attend to from time to time to encourage proper growth of the grass.
When you notice that the soil is becoming very compact and water is not draining well, it is necessary to aerate the lawn or core it. You could take the help of lawn and garden maintenance services to help your lawn stay healthy and support the growth of grass.
What Is Lawn Coring?
Lawn coring is a method that involves punching holes into the lawn and removing little portions of the lawn to ensure that the grass grows well in proper vigour. These open holes in the lawn allow it to receive more sunlight, water, and air.
Coring a lawn requires a specialised piece of equipment with hollow tines or spikes and requires experience to use properly. Reach out to lawn and garden maintenance from Pro Gardeners to help you core your lawn properly so that it stays healthy and well throughout the year.
What Are The Benefits of Lawn Coring?
Soil compaction is common in clay soils and the best response to this is to core the lawn properly. Typical signs of soil compaction include poor drainage and waterlogging, and increased likelihood of pests and diseases.
Soil compaction hinders the growth of your lawn and is one of the causes of a patchy, poorly populated lawn.
When Is The Best Time To Aerate Your Lawn?
Aerate your lawn during spring and autumn. These are the best times in the year to core the lawn and take advantage of aeration. There is additional moisture during spring which helps the lawn bounce back and take advantage of the coring process.
A strong root system beneath the ground prevents weeds from sprouting through and even prevents insects from building nests or networks under the ground. Healthy roots also help your yard absorb water and nutrients and reduce drainage problems.
Step-by-Step Guide To Core A Lawn
Lawn coring, or aerating, is an essential practice that helps improve soil health and allows for better water, oxygen, and nutrient flow to the roots of the grass. Follow this guide to get the best results:
1. Prepare the Lawn for Coring
The night before coring, water your lawn well to soften the soil. This will ensure the coring machine’s tines can easily penetrate and remove soil plugs without breaking. Place flags to indicate sprinkler locations and other obstacles to avoid damage while using the coring machine.
2. Begin Lawn Coring
Guide the machine over your lawn’s surface. The tines will punch holes and pull out plugs of soil and turf. As each pass is made, these plugs will be left on the lawn. Wear steel-capped boots and follow the machine’s operating instructions, as provided by the rental shop.
3. Clean Up the Plugs
Use a rotary mower without a catcher to chop the plugs into small particles that can decompose back into the soil naturally. For a cleaner finish, use a rotary mower with a catcher to collect and remove the plugs, leaving a tidier lawn surface.
4. Apply Soil Treatments
With the soil aerated, apply these treatments directly to improve water flow and nutrient absorption. If your soil is clay-heavy, apply a gypsum clay breaker after coring to improve drainage and reduce compaction.
5. Allow Holes to Remain Open
Leave the holes open to maximize water, oxygen, and nutrient access for the roots. For compacted or clay-based lawns, fill holes with clean sand to enhance drainage and prevent future compaction.
Top Tips To Core A Lawn
Aerating your lawn is essential to maintain its health and lush appearance. Here are some top tips to get the best results from your aeration efforts, especially if you’re considering professional lawn mowing services to keep your yard in prime condition.
- Choose Plug Aerators Over Spike Aerators: While spike aerators only push holes into the soil, plug aerators remove small soil plugs, which promotes root growth without causing further soil compaction. For the best results, look for an aerator that leaves holes around two to three inches deep and half an inch in diameter.
- Leave the Plugs on the Lawn: After aeration, allow the soil plugs to naturally decompose. They contain valuable nutrients that will return to the soil. To speed up the process, you can break them down with a lawnmower or rake once they’re dry.
- Aerate in Spring and Fall: These seasons provide the ideal conditions for aeration, supporting root growth and allowing your lawn to absorb increased moisture. Aerating during peak growth seasons helps strengthen the root system, which creates a natural defense against weeds and pests.
- Combine Aeration With Overseeding: After aerating, overseed to improve coverage and fill any bare spots in the lawn. The open soil pockets created by aeration offer a perfect environment for seeds to establish themselves and thrive.
- Hydrate the Lawn Properly: Ensure the soil is adequately moist but not overly wet before aeration. A moist lawn makes it easier for the aerator to extract plugs without crumbling, ensuring a smooth process and effective results.
Wrapping Up
Regular aeration is key to a thriving lawn, enhancing soil health and promoting strong root growth. To keep your lawn in top shape, consider combining aeration with other essential tasks like overseeding and proper hydration. For a truly professional finish, Pro Gardeners offers lawn mowing services and lawn and garden maintenance that ensures your yard remains lush throughout the year. Let Pro Gardeners handle the hard work, so you can enjoy a beautiful, well-maintained lawn effortlessly.