Aerating and ventilating the lawn: All information at a glance
If your lawn is not growing properly, there can be various reasons for this. Many soils in Germany are very compacted: This makes it harder for water to seep through and the lawn roots receive little oxygen. As a result, this can lead to poorer growth and encourage moss and weeds.
That's why it can be a good idea to aerate your lawn. There are three different ways to do this: aerating, ventilating and scarifying. In this article, we'll explain the benefits of aerating and when you should aerate your lawn. At the same time, we'll show you how best to do it and explain the different terms.
What are the benefits of lawn aeration?
If you aerate your lawn, it will receive more oxygen and will be able to grow better in the future.
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Aerate, ventilate or scarify the lawn?
There are three different practices: In most gardens, it is sufficient to work the lawn with a lawn aerator.
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When is the time to aerate the lawn?
You should aerate your lawn on a dry day. Cloudy days with moderate temperatures are best.
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How to aerate your lawn
After thorough preparation, aerate your entire lawn with a lawn aerator and then water it.
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Aerating the lawn: what are the benefits?
In order for the lawn in your garden to grow optimally, two conditions are essential: water and oxygen. Under optimal conditions, your lawn grows in loose, airy soil where it can develop strong roots. It receives sufficient oxygen and is well ventilated.
However, the reality in most gardens is different. Heavily compacted and clayey soils are very common and can have a negative impact on lawn growth. This is because they make it difficult for water to penetrate the soil. This causes waterlogging and the formation of moss. At the same time, the soil is too dry and your lawn grows slowly. In addition, ventilation is inadequate in compacted and clayey soils.
Therefore, in many cases it can make sense to aerate your lawn. There are various ways to do this.
Aerating or scarifying the lawn: Differences to aerating
If you research how to aerate your lawn, you will come across a variety of terms. There are differences between aerating, ventilating and scarifying. The aim of all three methods is to provide your lawn with more oxygen.
There are small differences that we would like to explain to you:
Ventilate
Aerating a lawn is also called harrowing. When aerating the lawn, weeds, thatch and moss are removed from the lawn using a lawn aerator with the aerator roller. The turf is not scratched or damaged in any way.
Aeration
This involves aerating your lawn. You use a spiked roller to make holes in the ground and then fill them with sand. This practice is usually used on golf courses or soccer fields and is probably not necessary in your garden.
Scarifying
If you want to scarify your lawn , the scarifier will cut small slits into the turf. This removes moss, weeds and thatch. When you scarify, you remove a lot of weeds, but you also put stress on your lawn because the turf is damaged.
Which option you choose depends on the condition of your lawn. If you want to treat it particularly gently, aeration is a good option. Buy a lawn aerator that you can use to aerate your lawn year after year.
Things are different when it comes to scarifying: This is particularly thorough, but at the same time stressful for your lawn. It often happens that you have to reseed the lawn after you have scarified. You can order the right lawn seeds for this directly from RasenExpert.
When is the best time to aerate the lawn?
If you want to aerate your lawn, you have a lot of flexibility in terms of timing. After winter, you should wait until the end of April or the beginning of May before you start aerating. By this time, you will probably have already mowed and fertilized your lawn.
If necessary, you can aerate your lawn again every one to two months. This is the big advantage over scarifying: the turf remains undamaged. This makes it possible to simply aerate the lawn when necessary and repeat the procedure as often as you like.
If you plan to aerate your lawn, you can do so until autumn. After that, you should take a break and not aerate your lawn over the winter. In the new year, you can then start caring for your lawn again in spring .
Does ventilation also have disadvantages?
Aerating your lawn can also have disadvantages. This is especially true for clay soils. These can smear when aerated. Instead of small holes, clogged or compacted areas are created. This makes your soil even less aerated. You can prevent this problem by only scarifying your dry soil: this will prevent clogging.
Aerating the lawn: This is the best way to do it
When it comes to aerating and scarifying, the approach is crucial. Instead of just starting, you should study the topic in more detail and make all the necessary preparations.
It is best to follow our instructions for scarifying and aerating:
Choose the right time
To ensure that aeration is successful, you should not use your lawn aerator on hot or wet days. Make sure that the ground is completely dry and that no rain is forecast.
Mow your lawn
Before you can aerate or scarify your lawn, you have to mow it. Only then can the roller reach the ground without damaging the blades of grass. It is best to choose a height of 3 to 4 cm.
Adjust the depth of your fan
With most lawn aerators you can adjust the depth. If you want to aerate, the tines should not touch the ground, but should comb lightly through the blades of grass. Scarifiers, on the other hand, are much deeper.
Ventilate your floor evenly
Now run your aerator over your entire lawn in even lines. For small lawns, you don't necessarily need a pattern, but for large gardens, you should proceed systematically.
Water your lawn
Once you have aerated your entire lawn, you should then water it. In the coming days, it is best to give the grass some rest and not walk on it so that it cannot recover.
If you want to aerate your lawn several times a year, it's best to follow these instructions. Whether scarifying or aerating: it's important that you do it correctly and prepare your lawn accordingly.
Frequently asked questions about proper lawn care
With the right care, the lawn in your garden will grow much faster and become more robust. It is crucial that it receives sufficient water and nutrients. As this article has shown, it is also important that enough oxygen reaches the roots. In this chapter, we will answer further questions about proper lawn care.
Aerating is better for your lawn because the turf is not damaged. If you scarify your lawn, it will be cut into. However, scarifying is generally considered to be more efficient.
When aerating the lawn, make sure to choose a rain-free day. The soil should also be completely dry. It is also important that you prepare your lawn accordingly.
Yes, you can aerate your lawn in summer too. Since the turf is not scratched, you will not damage your lawn even in high temperatures. You should only not aerate your lawn in winter.
Sanding and aerating are two different procedures. When sanding, you mix sand into your lawn to loosen the compacted soil. When aerating, on the other hand, you remove weeds and moss so that more oxygen can reach the roots.
Conclusion: Aeration and scarification can be useful
If the roots of your lawn are not getting enough oxygen, aeration can have a big effect. If you aerate the lawn several times a year, this can have a significant effect on growth. It is important that you prepare the lawn correctly and allow your lawn to rest after the procedure. You may already see an effect a few weeks later.
To all who can and want to do it themselves,
Your RasenExpert Team