The first thing I did was I dethatched my lawn with a dethatcher. Thatching is a great way to get rid of dead grass, it also helps to prevent lawn disease. By the way I noticed that I had a little bit of fungus turning my lawn yellow in February, so I put down some fungicide as well. After I got rid of all the fungus, then I use the detaching machine to take out all of the dead grass. If your lawn looks really bad, there’s a good chance that using a detaching machine will help it out. It might look a little bit worse at the beginning, but after a few weeks it should start to look a whole lot better. The reason why people use 80 Thatcher is so they can get a nice clean star on their lawn and so there’ll be plenty of room for new seats to grow.

The next thing that you need to do is to make sure to water your lawn. I didn’t have a sprinkler system installed in my back lawn last year, and as a result, about one third of my lawn died from drought damage. Before I could seed my lawn, I thought it was necessary to dig the trenches and install a sprinkler system. Not only will this help my lawn to stay alive, if I go out of town for a few days, but it will also help my new seedlings to come in and establish themselves. Watering your lawn regularly is very important, especially when you’re planting new grass seed.

The next thing they did was I aerated my lawn with a lawn aerator. I knew my lawn was in bad shape, it wasn’t hardly growing, and I figured I might as well go over it two or three times with a lawn aerator. This made all the difference in the world. It wasn’t instantaneous, but over the course of two or three weeks, my grass started growing very quickly.

Right after I did lawn aeration,  I put grass seed down on top of it and a light covering of Pete Moss. Then, I fertilized it. The areas where I had seated, I only put about half of the regular amount of fertilizer. Fertilizer helps out a time. As soon as the average daily temperature started hitting 70°, my lawn started growing very quickly. I have mowed my lawn three times already since the beginning of April. It is amazing how quickly your lawn comes back if you take the time to care for properly.

The other thing you want to look at is the quality of the aerator. I am not sure if all bluebirds are low quality, but the one that I owned for three years was the worst aerator I ever had. I had to constantly repair it and spend more time on available because of small parts breaking on it than I did actually using the machine.

The type of machine you get isn’t pour into the quality of the aeration that you will be able to do. In order to get better plugs when you aerate a lawn, you want to make sure to always water the lawn well the night before, and you want to make sure that the machine has all of its weights in it. The weights, and the wetness of the soil will determine how far your aerator will go into it. Ideally, you want to get a 2 inch plug when you aerate your lawn.

Learn more about liquid aerators.

Lawn aeration is necessary due to compaction of the ground as a result of continued traffic on a particular area intended for gardening. Normally clayey areas are prone to compaction as compared to other soil type areas. Compaction causes the initial stages of the root to receive an inadequate amount of air for development. To reduce the effects of compaction then lawn aeration comes in. this is because, for a plant to survive, it needs adequate amounts of water, nutrients and air. Lawn aeration enables these requirements to reach the roots quicker and with less effort. This avoids the risk of irrigated water pooling on the surface instead of permeating to the root base. Also, some types of weeds are eliminated once you adopt lawn aeration.

In summary, to ensure that your lawn maintains a healthy plant growth and development, make lawn aeration as part of your gardening routine. This is because; lawn aeration will enable the roots to get adequate air amounts allowing for the healthy growth of the plant. Also, water and nutrients are allowed to reach the root system of the plant. Apart from that, some weed types are eliminated. So to get the maximum benefits out of your garden, practice some lawn aeration and note the difference. If you liked this article and want to learn more about aeration, Atlanta lawn care or lawn maintenance check out GeorgiaLawn.com.

The coring manual aerator can be moved straight into the soil using a foot upon the pronged-crosspiece
and then taken back again simply by hand. Using just two or three coring prongs, this will take a while
in order to create a great deal of openings in an overall lawn. These tend to be good with regard to
more compact lawns and usually are good to possess in performing much more regular aeration within
troubled places or even obtaining virtually any place that different kinds of aerators overlooked.

The most well-known aerator for lawn, the gas-powered equipment runs just like a
lawnmower. These may be twofold as large as lawnmowers and may be difficult to switch. Kinds which
tend to be self-propelled are much less exhausting to employ are the kind which include a power-lift.
These happen to be much more costly to purchase, however may possibly be rented for $40-$50 for a
half-day.

Tow behind aerators depend on something else in order to move them, such as a lawnmower
or tractor. These typically help to make the greatest openings – deep as well as long-lasting. Because
they are usually broader and bigger, these could end up being far more difficult to employ and it might
consider a small training to control them properly. They are the quickest to work with, earning them an
excellent selection for aerating lawn which is bigger than standard or even needs to be accomplished a
lot more frequently.

Everything you need to know about Lawn Aerators.

Another way to help reduce thatch is by aerating often. Aerating allow air into the thatch layer which will help to break it down faster. In addition, aerating also reduces soil compaction. Reducing soil compaction also reduces soil stress and encourages root development. Without root development grass will start to atrophy and disappear.

The great news is that it doesn’t cost much to rent a lawn aerator or a lawn dethatcher. In most States lawn aerators cost $40 to $100 per day to rent and lawn dethatcher only cost $30 to $80 to rent. Although we recommend that you aerate your lawn once per year for the first three years and then only once every three years, lawn thatching only needs to be done on an as need basis. In most cases this is only once every 3- 5 years. You may need to de thatch your lawn more often if the following conditions exist:

1. Your lawn is shady and it growth moss very quickly. (Best to use iron as moss killer in the Fall.)

2. Your lawn gets full of bad grasses which you are trying to eliminate over time with thatching.

3. You are getting rid of patchy areas caused by lawn insects, dog urine or lawn disease.

Best luck aerating and or use dethatching rakes on your lawn.

Hollow tine aerators pull dirt plugs from the ground, leaving holes that loosen the soil and improve water and nutrient flow to grass roots. There are three main groups of these aerators: manual, mechanical and tow-behind.

Manual

A manual tine aerators has two or three tines spaced along a horizontal bar which is attached to a long handle. To get the best ground penetration, push the aerator into the dirt with your foot along the bar and your hands at the top of the handle. Then pull it back out, letting the dirt cores fall to the ground.

The hole diameter depends on the size of the tines and soil conditions, but they are typically around a ½ inch or so. The hole depth should be around 1-3 inches and if you cannot get it in that deeply, you will need to water the lawn more thoroughly to soften the ground or use a mechanical or pull behind aerator.

Manual aerators are great for lawns under 500 sq. ft., for more frequent aeration in spots that compact quickly and to work in areas that are difficult for a mechanical or tow-behind to get to. It is a good idea for everyone to have one of these valuable garden tools. Although a lawn aerator can cost as much as $5000, manual aerators start at around only $20. Choose a high quality tool manufactured from durable materials and it will last several years.

Mechanical

For average to large residential lawns, most people prefer using a mechanical aerator. These are like a large, heavy lawn mower, weighing up to 300 lbs. As you move the machine along the lawn (choose one that is self-propelled to make it easier), the hollow tines roll into and out of the dirt.

They are much quicker to use and will produce deeper holes, around 2-4 inches. It is best to mechanically aerate in either the spring or fall. Aerate well before the summer so the grass can recover before the hot and dry weather starts. In the fall, aerate with around a month left of growing season, so the grass has time to benefit from the aeration process before going dormant. You want the ground to be soft but not soggy so the holes will be deep and long-lasting.

The best mechanical aerators cost a few hundred to a few thousand dollars, so renting one makes the most sense for someone who will just aerate their own lawn periodically. Most lawns can be done in a four-hour, half-day rental period, but if your lawn in very large, it may take longer. Rates are around $40-$60 for a half-day and $80-$110 for a full-day. Call early to request a rental since it isn’t uncommon for all the machines to be rented out on the weekends during the best times to aerate.

Tow-Behind

Tow behind aerators are attached to the back of a riding lawn mower or trailer and pulled over the ground, the hollow tined wheels rotating in and out of the ground as it goes along. Most models can be made heavier with the addition of water, sand or lead, which helps improve hole depth in heavily compacted ground. Most tow-behind aerators put in holes 3-4 inches deep that are around ½ inch in diameter.

Tow-behinds are wider than other aerators, from 2 ½ feet to 6 feet depending on the model. They are typically used on lawns of an acre or more and at golf courses and parks. Because of their width, they can be trickier to maneuver around obstacles. Also, it is better to aerate in long rows to avoid unnecessary turning. If you need to go over the lawn twice, you can go the other direction the second time for more comprehensive coverage. If you prefer, you can aerate in circles.
Buying an aerator that is a tow behind unit makes a lot of sense for someone who already has a lawn mower or tractor to pull it. They start around $150 and go up to $750 for models that will meet most needs. Since renting one of them will typically run $75-$125, after a few uses it pays for itself and you won’t have to worry about transporting it to and from the rental center.

Choosing the Right Tow Behind Aerator

For an average-sized model, expect to spend $300-$700. With rental prices of around $100 a day, purchasing one will eventually save you money. Plus you can avoid the hassle of transporting it to and from the aerator rental center each time you need it.

Be sure that the aerator you choose can be correctly attached and pulled by the lawn mower or tractor you own. Their size, width, length and weight vary by model, so read specifications carefully. Most are 3-4 feet wide and about 5-6 feet long. They typically weigh 500-1000 pounds before any additional weight is added. On average, a tow-behind will aerate at up to 4mph, or around 1.5 acres per hour.

Most tow aerators have multiple tine wheels that rotate as they move over the ground. Choose ones with hollow tines that will remove dirt cores over those that have solid spikes for the best results. Curved models will follow the contours of the ground better and will more consistently aerate in uneven areas. Be sure that the design allows you to turn when the tines are in the ground, making it much easier and faster to maneuver.

How to Use an Aerator

Begin by properly attaching the tow lawn aerator to the tractor or lawn mower. If necessary, add additional weight with lead, sand or water depending on how the aerator is designed. The extra weight helps the tines get farther into the compressed soil. Start aerating, then check to see that they are getting in deeply enough. If not, try adding additional weight.

Tow aerators  or pull aerators are wider than other kinds of aerators. This means that more area is covered in a faster time, with more tines putting more holes into the ground. They make quick work of larger lawns. However, the additional width makes them more awkward to maneuver. It is best to go in long rows or in a circular pattern around the lawn. Be sure to carefully clean dirt and any small stones from the tines after each use.

When to Aerate

Aerating should be done at least every three years. Ground that is heavily compacted or easily compacted will need to be aerated more frequently, every year or two. It is important to have good soil conditions for lawn aeration before beginning. If the dirt is too hard, it will be difficult for the tines to get far enough into the ground and make quality holes. If the soil is too soggy, the holes will not last very long and the process will not be as beneficial.

Also pay attention to the time of year you plan to aerate. In general, aerate in the early spring or late fall. The grass will do best with a month of cool (but not cold) temperatures and plenty of water. Aeration is stressful on the grass plants and can cause them to dry out more quickly, so it is best not to aerate in the summer. After aerating is a great time to overseed and fertilize. You’ll see the most benefits from all three when you do them in conjunction.