A lush lawn needs more than just watering. The soil must be aerated, as well. This means breaking up hard soil to allow air and nutrients to penetrate and properly nourish the roots of the grass. While some home owners prefer to hire lawn care services, others are not afraid of using a little elbow grease to aerate and knowing when to fertilize lawn in Denver.
Here is what you should know if you want to aerate the lawn by yourself:
- Know the Type of Grass You Have on Your Lawn
The ideal moment for aerating the lawn depends on the type of grass you have on your lawn. Warms season grass, such as Bermuda grass, needs soil aeration in spring. Cool season grass, such as Kentucky Bluegrass, thrives after an aeration during the fall.
- Determine the Type of Soil
Aeration frequency also depends on the type of soil. Clay soils is more prone to compacting, thus, it requires more frequent aerations. On the other hand, sandy soils are loose by their nature, therefore you do not need aeration more often than once per year.
- Prepare the Lawn for Aeration
Before you actually start the aeration process, clean the lawn thoroughly. Use a rake to remove dead leaves, small tree branches and other debris. It is also a good idea to mow your lawn before aeration, because it allows the spikes of the aerator to penetrate deeper. If you have a sprinkler system installed, make sure to turn it off.
- Choose the Aeration Method
DIY aerators are available in two main versions: the core aerator and the spike aerator. Core aerators work best on moist soil, while spike aerators ensures better penetration and circulation of air in the soil.