Time to Aerate...you know punch little holes in the lawn.

Lawn aeration is done generally with a machine that basically looks something like a rotary mower. Lawn aerators are run over the surface of the grass, like a lawn mower but instead of cutting the grass the aerator removes small cylinder like pieces of soil and grass. The cylinders generally are referred to as soil plugs. The removed cores can be left on the surface of the lawn and will act as a fertilizer as they decompose.

Lawns that are heavily compacted or that contain a thick layer of thatch need to be aerated more frequently than other lawns. For the average lawns, aeration once each year, usually in the fall, is adequate. For heavily compacted or thatched lawns, aeration should probably occur twice a year once in the spring and once in the fall.

The benefits of aeration are numerous. Aeration will help eliminate thatch. It will also help combat the effects of soil compaction and improve soil quality in poor soil lawns. Aeration will also help your lawn to establish a good, strong root system. Properly rooted lawns are healthier, stay green with less water and survive the winters better. Aeration also lessens the effects of water run-off during irrigation times, which means you’ll save money and water.
Finally, with all those holes from aerating, re-seeding is ideal. The seed is able to fill the voids left by aeration and help thicken or introduce more grass plants to the lawn. For warm climates, those who seed cool season grasses find re-seeding following aeration the idea time. Simple actions produce those desirable lawns that are the envy of the neighborhood.

Next Week: Fall Fertilization

FALL IS TIME TO PLANT OR RE-SEED A LAWN

Can you believe summer is over? The cooler temperatures are noticeable apparent in the mornings with cooler day time temperatures too. Looking around the landscape which dots the horizon we see leaves taking on the remarkable colors of fall! The beauty of the changing season is here. Like a new snow fall, the first buding leaves, or the warmth of summer the changing seasons brings another milestones of life's renewal.

Autumn Fires

Robert Louis Stevenson

In the other gardens

And all up the vale,

From the autum bonfires

See the smoke trail!

Pleasant summer over

And all the summer flowers,

The red fires blazes,

The grey smoke towers.

Sing a song of seasons!

Something bright in all!

Flowers in the summer,

Fires in the Fall!

Fall is a time of preparation. In times past, and for some fortunate people, bring in the harvest meant putting up the labors of summer for subsistence during the winter months. Preparing for next years growing season is what fall is all about. Robert Louis Stevenson's poem Autumn Fires highlights the change of seasons and preparation. Prepare your landscaping and lawn for winter and prepare it for the next year's growing season by re-seeding now. There are may ornamentals planted in the fall for spring and summer blazing glory. According to Rick Seymour, CT says, "where you live throughout much of the northern half of the U.S., early fall is the best time for sowing grass. The soil is warm, but day time temperatures are moderate, making watering less of a problem, and the weeds won't grow." This also give the new grass longer period of time before foot traffic impacts the grass. Begin today to re-seed, plant a new lawn or add ornamentals to your landscape.