It seems like just yesterday that things were starting to heat up in southeastern Wisconsin. No, we are rapidly preparing for the fall season. With winter looming, let’s savor every day we can until the first frost. Fall can be a beautiful time of year. The trees treat us to some of the most picturesque views imaginable and as you sit back and enjoy this time of year, let’s not forget about your lawn that you have spent all summer maintaining. Autumn in Wisconsin is a very heavy growth period for our green spaces. In addition, we have spent all summer on our lawns, whether it’s kids playing, parents lounging or simply cutting our grass. All this activity slowly compacts your soil. Compacted soils have too many solid particles in a certain volume or space, which prevent proper circulation of air, water and nutrients within the soil. Heavy organic debris buried under the grass surface can also starve the roots from these essential elements.
What can we do to fix this?
The most widely embraced method to deal with compacted soil is aeration. Lawn Care Aeration penetrates the soil, allowing essential nutrients to reach the grass roots. There are two types of aeration tools: a spike aerator and a plug aerator. A spike aerator simply pokes holes in the ground with a solid tine or fork. Plug aerators, which are more common, remove a core of grass and soil from the lawn. Core aeration (plug aerators) in many cases, is far more effective. In fact, spike aeration can lead to even more compacted soil, essentially having the opposite of the desired effect.
How to properly aerate your lawn
Before you get started, ensure that your lawn is moist. Most professionals will tell you that aerating the day after it rains is ideal. While aerating, the machine will leave behind cores of grass and soil on your lawn. Let these soil plugs dry out and then run your lawn mower over them to break them up. With this being said, we are assuming that you have somehow located an aerator. You can rent aerators from several different hardware stores (Home Depot, etc.). However, depending on the size of your lawn, this can be a daunting task. Most homeowners will contact a certified professional to handle the aeration. This can save you time, money and all the pains that come with maintaining your lawn.
Aeration will go a long way in helping you achieve the lawn you desire. If you would like more information or a quote for aeration, please contact Best Choice Landscape or give us a call at 414-897-7922. Our certified team of lawn technicians is here to guide you through the process
