Enhance The Beauty Of Your Garden Using Lawn Aeration
If you are a proud owner of a beautifully landscaped lawn and love to throw outdoor parties, then regular lawn aeration is a must to maintain the ravishing look of your lawn. Don’t panic if the term lawn aeration sounds foreign as this is just a simple procedure of removing plugs and cores from the lawn soil to make it more porous and healthier for plant growth.
The soil of our lawns loses its porosity and becomes compacted due to heavy usage from walking, running or even during the rainy seasons. The trampled soil is able to hold less oxygen and neither the water nor the nutrients are able to seep deep inside the earth to the plant roots, resulting in slower plant growth and marring the look of your lawn.
Lawn aeration can be done using mechanical lawn aerators, a device having a drum-like structure with spoons or tines attached at its base to remove soil cores. Lawn aerators can be hired out from any landscaping firm. The following steps will help you get your lawn properly aerated:
The first important step is to moisten the lawn soil by watering it thoroughly for a couple of days. For lawn aeration we need moist but not wet soil which may otherwise cling to the aerator’s tines.
If you live in an area experiencing heavy rainfall then wait till the soil has dried sufficiently before starting on the aeration procedure.
Once the soil reaches a properly moist state you should use a lawn aerator to remove the soil cores. The aerator should be moved in at least two different directions for better coverage.
Another important point is to mark the position of your garden sprinklers, cable and underground wiring lines carefully so that the aerator tines do not damage them.
After taking out soil cores, use manure and fertilizers on the lawn surface to replenish the soil.
The best time to carry out lawn aeration in areas experiencing warm climate is in the months of June and July, whereas areas near the east coast should use land aerators in months of August and September to promote good garden growth.
Lawn aeration helps increase microbial activity in soil, in turn improving thatch decomposition. Also, the airy soil promotes better penetration of water and other nutrients to the plant roots, resulting in faster growth. Another benefit of lawn aeration include an increase in the underground water table due to incursion of more rainwater in the soil. Aerate your lawn at least once every year to enjoy and lush and green lawn forever.
How to Take Care of New Sod Lawns
You have to take care of new sod lawns. Sod, or turf, is a living and breathing element and it can die. You should never schedule a delivery of sod until you are ready to install it. Sod should never be stored for more than a couple of days.
When you go to buy sod, you should make sure it is freshly cut. You should also look for sod that has been grown on soil similar to the soil in your yard. When you install your sod, try to avoid stretching it or leaving any gaps, which might encourage weeds to grow.
You should know that heat can build up inside a roll of sod. As soon as it has been laid, you should take care of new sod lawns by giving them a good drink of water. Allow the water to penetrate to a depth of at least six inches.
During the first two weeks, you should take care of new sod lawns as if they were dehydrating. You cannot over-water them, so you can water your new sod lawn up to five times a day. The key is keeping the sod moist so the roots have time to firmly take root. You should keep people and pets off of your new sod lawn until it has had its first mowing. Most sod lawns can be mowed approximately two weeks after installation. However, if your lawn has been laid in the cold months, it may be a while before mowing is required. Keep in mind that it is better to mow high than to scalp your new lawn.
During the third and fourth weeks, you can start to reduce the frequency of waterings. While you may decrease the frequency of your waterings, you may want to increase how long you water. Sod lawns at this age really like deeper and less frequent waterings because that helps their roots grow more deeply to reach water. This establishes your new lawn into the soil and makes it stronger. If you want to check to see if your lawn is getting firmly rooted, simply tug on the turf. At the four-week mark, you should apply fertilizer to your new lawn.
Problem Solvers for New Sod Lawns
If you think that your sod is not taking root fast enough, you should know that sod lawns planted in excessive shade will put down roots more slowly than sod lawns which are in full sun. Adjusting your watering schedule can help a lawn that is having problems establishing roots. Doing less frequent but deeper soakings may help.
If your sod is shrinking, that is a sign that it is not receiving enough water. Immediately begin increasing the duration and frequency of waterings and the gaps should fill in.
Does your sod have bluish-grey spots? If so, these are drought spots. Take care of new sod lawns by increasing watering time. If you are using a sprinkler to water, make sure it is reaching the areas that are spotting.
