While walking in lawns, forests, gardens, and fields, most people believe that the ground under their feet is simply a solid mass of dirt and roots. Not so! The truth is that 50% of healthy soil’s makeup actually consists of pores of air pockets! Half of the dirt in our yards is solid soil particles, and the other half is meant to be spaces for air. However, many factors can cause the air pockets in your soil to shrink, and when that happens, your grass suffers. So what’s a homeowner to do when soil particles push and compact together? Simple! Time to aerate!
Aeration is the best means of breaking up thick layers of thatch and repairing compact soil. A few methods of lawn aeration techniques are commonly used: spiked aeration, liquid aeration, and core aeration.
But which way is the best for your property, and which method is the best overall option for Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW)? We have those answers and more!
Want to learn more about aerating lawns? Read our guide on how to aerate your lawn in Dallas.
Spike Aeration
The spike method of aerating involves puncturing the ground with a spike or sharp-pointed metal. This method does not remove any soil but mainly pushes the soil further into the ground. There are two main ways to accomplish spike aeration, handheld spike tools and spiked shoes.
Hand spike tools are usually in the form of a pole with a spiked end. The user would hold the rod and press the pointed end into the ground across the targeted grass space. These handheld tools can be purchased as a pole with 3-5 simple spikes at the end, or they also come with roller spikes.
Spiked shoes are the more commonly seen method of manual aeration. Spiked shoes are usually sold as a special shoe or as a shoe attachment that can be worn with regular shoes. In either case, the base of aerator shoes is loaded with spikes. While wearing the spiked shoe, the person would walk across the targeted grass and cover the entire area. This method is best when the user walks slowly, ensuring the spikes have wholly penetrated the soil.
Pros
- Handheld tools and spiked shoes are more affordable than other aeration tools. This actually makes manual aeration the most affordable method of lawn aeration. No need to buy or rent any specific machinery for this method!
- Handheld aerator tools and spiked shoes are easy and straightforward to use.
- Spike aeration is a great way to increase access to roots before fertilizing or seeding.
- Many lawn care professionals recommend using spiked aeration tools as a way to maintain space in your soil for air and water between fall and spring core aeration treatments.
Cons
- Not very effective on heavily compacted soils, like the clay soils of DFW. The solid tines used on spike aerators actually compact clay soils further when they push into the ground.
- As you may have guessed, spiked aeration involves a lot of manual effort. The amount of manual labor involved means that spiked aeration is best suited for small lawns and gardens.
- Spiked aeration isn't able to penetrate deeply into your soil. Manual tools have limitations, and so they can't compete with the efficiency of core aeration.
Liquid Aeration
During liquid lawn aeration, the user mixes a liquid aeration product with water and sprays it all across the grass. The spraying can be done using a garden pump sprayer or a hose-end attachment. After being sprayed, these products’ ingredients are meant to feed and stimulate microbes and spread enzymes or bacteria to break down thatch and compact soil.
While the soil particles are being broken down, it will reopen the soil pores and openings that are a part of natural, healthy soil makeup.
Pros
- Applying liquid lawn aeration products is the most effortless process of all the aeration methods.
- Liquid aeration doesn't involve poking holes in the ground, so all you really need is a spraying hose-end attachment. No specialized tools necessary!
- This method is cheaper than many other aeration techniques because there aren't any tools necessary.
- Liquid aeration will cover your whole yard, not every few inches like in other methods.
- Liquid aeration is said to be able to permeate the soil at a greater depth.
- The fundamental idea of liquid lawn aeration is to be a "shortcut" to traditional core aeration. Therefore, it's created to be cheaper as well as faster and easier to apply.
Cons
- Most experts agree that these products are not effective. Experts state that liquid lawn aerator products have not been proven to successfully break down dense soil to alleviate compaction.
- According to the Colorado State University extension office , “Simply stated, there is no “chemical” substitute for physical remediation of soil compaction – namely the traditional core cultivation techniques that have been used for years on all types of turf areas.”
- Liquid aeration works by stimulating microbes, which is a process that can take many months or years of continual applications to potentially see results.
- Liquid aeration requires more frequent continual applications of liquid aerator products.
- The product must be spread as evenly as possible across the lawn.
Core Aeration
The coring method of aeration is the standard and most popular option. During core aeration, a powered aerator machine is pushed across the lawn, similar to a lawnmower. As the machine moves, it pulls up small cores of soil and grass. These cores are then left on the surface and break down over time, providing nutrients to the lawn.
The holes that are opened in the ground allow for more soil space, better oxygen absorption, and increased retention capacity. This all creates a healthy lawn by breaking down thatch and resolving soil compaction issues.
Pros
- Core aeration is recommended by most lawn care professionals and most lawn research organizations as the most effective method for reducing soil compaction.
- Core aeration is the best technique for the easily compacted clay soils of DFW.
- The coring method produces the best results of any aeration technique.
- Using powered aerator machines is highly efficient, and most yards can be completed within a couple hours.
- This method utilizes a powered machine, so the amount of manual labor is low.
- Core aeration is the best option for heavily compacted soil because it breaks up and redistributes the soil. Physically opening holes in the ground dramatically reduces compact soil.
- Aeration does not need to be performed often. Twice a year is ideal.
- This method is an excellent option for large yards and gardens.
Cons
- Specialized equipment is necessary for core aeration. This means that it can cost more than the other methods. You will have to buy or rent the machinery or hire a company. Hiring a company is the best and most affordable option. Core aeration only needs to be done twice a year. This means that hiring a company or renting the equipment may be a better option than purchasing and paying the machinery's upfront cost.
The best lawn aeration technique – Core Aeration
There’s a reason that core aeration is the standard method in the lawn care industry. Proven over and over to be the best way to dethatch, repair compact soil, and produce a healthy, lush lawn, core aeration is the most effective lawn aeration method. The results of core aeration are undeniable!
With Gecko Green‘s help, you can alleviate your grass from stress and prepare it for thicker, healthier growth with our lawn aeration service! Our professional teams are seasoned in the aeration process and have the know-how to produce the best results for your lawn. Our aeration service invigorates lawn growth and enhances its natural defense against risks. Get the beautiful lawn you deserve from the company that cares!
