Core aeration is the practice of removing small cores or “plugs” of soil by mechanical means. Aeration has been practiced almost as long as we have been mowing grass. Turfgrass is just like any other agricultural crop, but the biggest difference is that we cannot aggressively till over our lawns or athletic fields at the end of the season. (Would you want your front lawn to look like a farm field every winter?)
When we aerate turfgrass, we are trying to get similar results that farmers achieve from tilling or disking their fields after harvest, albeit on a much lesser scale.
We aerate for several reasons, all with the goal of improving the soil’s physical and biological characteristics. When we pull the core of turf and soil out, we create a channel for water and nutrients to get into the soil more readily and improve the exchange of oxygen to the roots. We are also fracturing roots, which stimulates more growth, and we are removing some decaying organic matter (called thatch) as well.
Another important byproduct of core aeration is relieving compaction to the soil. The more cores we remove, the better the relief of soil compaction. Seeding in conjunction with aeration is also desirable since the holes allow for better seed-to-soil contact, which in turn increases germination rates. It is also ideal to add any soil amendments after aeration such as lime and organic fertilizers because they will have direct contact with the soil.
Core aeration is one of the most important tools we have when maintaining or improving turfgrass stands. In East Tennessee, the fall is the best time to aerate fescue or other cool-season grasses because the cooler daytime temperatures favor seed germination. If you have a warm-season grass such as zoysia or Bermuda, the best time to aerate is in late May or June when soil temperatures are warm enough to encourage grass to heal quicker. Bright Grove can handle all of your aeration needs from the smallest home lawn to the biggest athletic fields. We also provide custom fertilization programs in conjunction with any aeration as well.
