Do It Yourself Lawn Aeration

Equipment rental companies and lawn and garden stores often rent aerator machines and provide basic operating instructions for the model you choose.

Do it yourself lawn aeration. The first reason fall is the best time to aerate lawn has to do with how often you are using your lawn. During the summer season you ll find your kids or even yourselves out on the lawn more and more. Ideally aerate the lawn with cool season grass in the early spring or fall and those with warm season grass in the late spring. Watering the lawn will help the aerator penetrate the soil and pull out soil cores much more easily.

Flag irrigation heads and other hidden objects in the lawn so that you will avoid them when operating the aerator over this area. Whether you re using a core aerator or a steel spike aerator you should cover the lawn completely in one direction and go back over it in a perpendicular motion. How to aerate your lawn without machines. Let s weigh the options of do it yourself diy aeration versus having the work done by a professional lawn care service.

You don t need any fancy equipment to aerate your lawn. You can hire a lawn service to aerate for you or do it yourself like a pro. Spike aerators punch holes in your lawn as you go while core aerators work to remove grass and soil plugs. People planning aeration of their gardens can choose across different techniques that can be used for this purpose.

Two main aerating tools exist a spike aerator and a plug aerator. This is a powerful and somewhat heavy motorized device that drives hollow tines several inches into the ground extracts plugs of soil. We recommend leaving these plugs to decompose on their own which will probably take about a week. With a spike aerator you simply use the tool to poke holes into the ground with a solid tine or fork.

I do love good 2x4 diy projects and this one is fabulous. Before you begin using your lawn aerator to aerate the soil in your yard you should first determine the best time of the year to do so. Note regardless of the type of lawn aerator you own i e. The fall is a great time to get the lawn ready for the following spring and summer season for two reasons.

Manual gas powered or electric the following guidelines can be used to properly aerate your lawn step 1 determine best time to aerate. Aerating is a lot like mowing as you work back and forth across your lawn. In this manner more oxygen and consequently moisture and nutrients are sourced towards the root system of the plants. You just use the rake to steady your aerator and give yourself a brace for pushing it into the ground.

You can make a simple diy lawn aerator out of an old garden rake and a 2x4. If you do not have an irrigation system use a garden hose and sprinkler to water the lawn.