PPDL Picture of the Week
September 19, 2016
Fall: A Great Time for Lawn Aerification
John Orick, Purdue Master Gardener State Coordinator, Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture
Fall
is a perfect time for homeowners to aerify their lawns. Aerification is the use
of a machine to remove small cores of soil from the lawn. Aerificiaton is performed
to control thatch build-up and/or soil compaction. What is thatch? Thatch is an
organic layer of dead and living shoots, stems, and roots that accumulate just
above the soil surface. Over-fertilizing, over-watering, and soil compaction
can all cause this build-up of this organic material which impedes the movement
of air, water, and nutrients to turf roots. A thatch layer of 0.5 inch thick or
less is desired. But, when this layer is 0.5 inch thick or more, the use of a
dethatching machine or aerifier is necessary to decrease the amount of thatch.
If the thatch layer is thicker than 1.0 inch, the sod may need to be removed
and the area reseeded. Aerification makes holes through the thatch to allow
air, water, and nutrients to reach turf roots. New roots can also grow inside
the aerifier holes leading to a healthier lawn. When aerifying a lawn, homeowners
should be sure the aerifier produces 20-40 holes per square foot, 2-3 inches
deep. Performing aerification when the soil is not too wet or too dry will help
produce these results. Core aerifiers can be rented at most rental centers or
hardware stores. These machines may require the operator to make multiple
passes over the lawn to provide effective results. If homeowners miss aerifying
their lawn in the fall, spring is also a recommended time.
Related Articles,
Publications, and Websites
Mowing,
Dethatching, Aerifying, and Rolling Turf, AY-8-W
https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/ay/ay-8-w.pdf
Spring
Lawn Aerification, Turf Tips, April
17, 2009 by Cale Bigelow.
https://turf.purdue.edu/tips/2009/04172009_aerification.html