Core and Liquid Aeration

 Understanding Core Aeration 

Core Aeration is a fantastic way to get water and oxygen down into the soil. It effectively allows the soil to "Breathe" and can help to reduce compaction. 

The question is - does healthy soil need to be aerated to accomplish these tasks and does it have any adverse effects? 

Aeration definitely has its place in lawn care and won't directly damage the turf if timed correctly. There is a common misconception that lawns need to be aerated in the Spring to release compaction from snow sitting over the winter and to allow moisture and oxygen to penetrate. This couldn't be further from the truth. 

The soil in Spring has more water and oxygen content than any other time in the year. Due to the freeze-thaw cycle, the soil has been constantly fractured over and over again throughout the winter, allowing the soil to "breathe". 

Spring is incredibly important for root development and carbohydrate storage and the best way to allow this to happen is to... leave it alone. 

Spring Aeration can also compound weed issues. Weeds are doing the same thing as the turf - developing root networks, maturing and going to seed. Aerators pull cores which contain root fragments and seeds which they then spread around the lawn. 

Aeration does however make sense when planning to do treatments of Bio-Fertilizers, Microbial Inoculations, Soil Amendments or topdressing with Compost as it allows direct access to where the treatments need to go - the soil profile. 

It's also a perfect time to Seed!

Microbial Inoculations with Mycorrhizae, Mineral Solubilizing Microorganisms, Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria like Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus and carbon sources like Humic and Fulvic Acid all enormously help to feed soil biology and increase soil and plant health. They help to increase mineralization, water holding capacity, nutrient holding and availability, defence against abiotic and biotic stressors and in general, create healthier plants!

 Understanding Liquid Aeration

 Liquid Aeration is a cocktail of multiple treatments designed to alter the chemical and physical composition of the soil in order to break hydrophobic / anaerobic conditions and "disperse" soil particles to allow water and oxygen to move. 

It is primarily done during the summer to help relieve those conditions. There are multiple components to it that affect the soil in different ways. 

Ammonium lauryl sulfate is the common input that most domestically available products include. This is what is used to "Disperse" the soil and break compaction. 

The application includes a mixture of Yucca Extract, various types of Kelp, Seacrop Hydrolysate, Chitosan, Humic/Fulvic Acid, Molasses and a few other inputs used as wetting and penetrating agents. The Kelp and Yucca have multiple purposes but also serve as antioxidants and as well as helping to protect the turf from UV damage - allowing it to retain more moisture. 

It works exceptionally well on clay/silt based soils that have high traffic as well as slopes - as it limits run off and increases moisture retention/penetration. 

It helps to make the most of watering and natural precipitation. Ideally, watering 24-48 hours after will really make the most of the application 

This is something I'd offer late June into early September. The program I do includes multiple applications during the summer, however it can also be purchased as a single application to compliment your own nutrition program.

Pricing is based on sqft again.

Why is Fall a better time to Core Aerate?

Fall is a time of recovery and preparation. Recovery from summer stress and preparation for winter dormancy. This is the time when you need to work on strengthening the turf. The impact and severity that summer has on turf are very dependent on the season and also on how healthy your soil and plants are going into it. Summer stress mostly consists of Drought and UV damage. These stressors create issues with water availability, moisture absorption and contribute to creating hydrophobic soil and compaction problems. UV damage (Think of it like how we get sunburnt) has a profound impact on the plant's ability to photosynthesize and transpire which create a ripple effect of other problems. 

Aerating in Fall opens up the soil & breaks soil surface tension (allowing water, oxygen and nutrients in). All of these benefits help to relieve compaction, which in turn allows roots to expand and the plants to recover. We generally get more natural precipitation later into the year, so this also limits the amount of water that would have needed to be applied if done in the summer. 

Healthy, biologically active soil will hold more water, be less prone to compaction/ hydrophobic conditions as well create more resistant plants, able to survive more effectively through these types of stressors. 

Please review the information below and then click the "Book Now" link below. 

Needed for a booking:

- Are you looking for Spring or Fall?

- Is there proper access to the area? The Aerator cannot be taken up or down stairs due to its weight. The odd single step here and there but nothing major. 

- Please state if you are looking for the front, back or entire property aerated.

- Pricing is based on the total ft² of the area and the complexity of the lawn. 

- Please bear in mind - Aerators cannot operate on slopes above 20-25 degrees as it becomes too dangerous for the operator. 

Time to poke some holes! - Book Now