Aeration
Core Aeration
Thatch Management
If you
are a current One Step customer and would like a quote on
aeration, please fill out the form below.
If you are not a One Step customer, we will
need to send someone to your house. Please use the Request
an Estimate and Analysis (click here).
Core aeration benefits your lawn in three important ways:
(1) it breaks through dense thatch and opens up the soil to permit
free movement of water, fertilizer and air, (2) by extracting cores
from every square foot of your lawn, core aeration relieves soil compaction
and gives grass roots room to grow; (3) the soil cores break down and
integrate into the thatch to speed up its decomposition.
Just one good core aeration can actually shrink your
lawn's water bill by as much as 50%. The reason is simple. With a heavy
thatch buildup, most of the water sprinkled on the grass rims off your
lawn, and down the street. Once we've core aerated, though, you'll
find that water runoff is all but eliminated - a lot less water will
go a long way.
Another benefit is a stronger stand of grass. Roots will
dig deeper into the soil and spread farther. This will help your lawn
survive stress times of drought, high temperatures and normal foot
traffic.
But of course the most important result of core aeration
is a healthier, more beautiful, more lasting lawn.
Bringing up cores is one of the most important forms
of preventive maintenance you can give your lawn, and should be done
at least once a year. Some lawns need to have this done twice a year.
Talk to us - we'll recommend the schedule that will help to relieve
your thatch and compaction problems.
Once core aerated, your lawn will be dotted with the
little plugs we've pulled from the soil. These plugs will break apart
and disappear into the lawn within a week or two.
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© Ryan Turf-Care Equipment
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This layer of organic matter acts almost as a blanket
covering the soil surface. A thatch layer of 1/2” or less is
acceptable and does have some benefit for the lawn. However, thatch
layers greater than 1/2” can be the source of many lawn problems.
Heavy thatch levels can prevent the penetration of air,
light, and water to the root zone of your lawn. Fertilizer and other
nutrients essential for good turf growth, are likewise unable to reach
the soil. Excessive thatch layers also provide ideal breeding ground
for many turf damaging insects and diseases.
It is important to note that grass clippings left on
the lawn do not contribute to this thatch layer. Grass clippings are
composed mostly of water. Once these clippings dry out there is very
little organic matter left. What is left will typically break down
very quickly.
Thatch can be most successfully managed with Core
Aeration. Core aeration is the mechanical means of removing small
cores of thatch and soil from your lawn. These cores are approximately
1/2” in diameter and 3/4” long. The overall health of
your lawn will be enhanced with core aeration. Aeration offers the
following benefits:
- Improved penetration of air and water to the root zone.
- Increased fertilizer uptake.
- Can help reduce water runoff.
- Stimulates new root and shoot growth from excising turf
grass.
- Helps to reduce soil compaction.
- Enhanced thatch breakdown.
- More effective disease and insect control.
- Improved heat and drought stress.
Core aeration is an important element in any successful
lawn maintenance program. Frequency and timing of aeration will vary
depending on soil composition and the overall condition of your lawn.
If you need more help or information with this
topic or any other lawn or tree care questions, please contact
us.
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