Core aeration is done to relieve compacted soil, establish root
growth and provides a conduit for water, air and nutrient to reach
the root zone. When a core aeration is complete the lawn will be a
covered in thumb size plug of dirt and sod. They will break down
over time. Very hilly areas may not be possible to do. After a core
aeration is a good time to over-seed.
Technically
speaking, aeration is the naturally occurring process of air
exchange between the soil and its surrounding atmosphere.
Practically speaking, aeration is the process of mechanically
removing small plugs of thatch from the lawn to improve soil
aeration. Textbooks of ten refer to the practices of soil aeration
as soil cultivation (coring, spiking and slicing). The aeration
process is also commonly called core aeration in the lawn service
industry, and home owners often refer to it as aeration.
Most home
lawns are subject to thatch accumulation. If thatch is left
unmanaged, it can lead to serious maintenance and pest problems. For
example, thatch accumulation of more than 1/2 inch on Kentucky
bluegrass lawns impedes water, fertilizer and pesticide
effectiveness. Core aeration reduces thatch accumulation, minimizes
its buildup and modifies its makeup by incorporating soil into the
thatch. As soil is combined with the thatch debris, soil organisms
are better able to break down the thatch and reduce its
accumulation.
