Why do I need a lawn aerator

A clean and well-kept lawn is also a healthy stretch of landscape. And that he was so, it is necessary not only to water and cut, but also to give breathe. Only for this you will need a special device - an aerator.

What is aeration

This process is necessary for the soil under the lawn to be saturated with oxygen, to let in more air, moisture and fertilizers, thereby improving the root feed. During such work, gas exchange occurs: carbon dioxide penetrates into the surface layer, receiving oxygen in return. As a result, there is an acceleration of many subsurface processes.

Such an event should be done for one more reason: in the lawn constantly soil is compacted. This will happen because of walking on it and even from the vibrations of constantly passing vehicles.Further, only worse: the density of the soil will not give the opportunity to absorb water and, of course, will prevent the normal development of the root system.

After aeration, the soil will absorb about 30% less water. This will lead to the fact that the plants will be able to withstand the dry period longer.

Of particular relevance this process becomes in the ground from dense sandy layers where gravel and sand are present. Moreover, this phenomenon is not uncommon both in new lawns and in those who have been carefully looked after for a long time.

How to aerate the lawn

The aeration mechanism is carried out by punching in the soil. small holes - their depth usually does not exceed three centimeters. For this purpose, they use both special devices, for example, a certain type of rake and gloves, and specially developed equipment - aerators.

No matter what form a potential user chose, a similar process should be started only with good growth of grass cover. If vegetation is stressed and is in a state of drought, then this problem must first be corrected. It is necessary to pay attention to the geographical location of a given point.For different zones, this procedure is carried out in different periods:

• May or September is the northern European part;
• May-April or September-November in the southern zone.

It is best to start work after precipitation or to water the lawn specifically the day before the process begins.

The most convenient, of course, to use the aerator is a device specifically designed to improve the access of moisture and air to the roots. Outwardly, it may resemble another well-known garden care tool - a lawnmower. However, these are functionally different devices. The aerator takes care of the “health” of the lawn from the inside, making it possible for useful substances to get into the soil by cleaning the garbage and loosening the soil, unlike the lawn mower, which simply cuts the grass.

Types of aerators

Today, manufacturers offer to purchase similar equipment in two variations - scarifier and verticutter. They differ in their impact on the lawn.

Scarifier - is an aerator with a rake, which is designed to clean the top layer of dead dry stems, sod, debris and moss. The soil will loosen, but not too deep (just a couple of centimeters), but in this case the access of moisture and air to the roots will improve.

Do not be afraid of left after treatment "popleshin" - usually they quickly appear new shoots.

Verticutter is a more complex interpretation of such a ripper for a lawn. Here the problem is solved already with the help of knives. Ventilation of the soil occurs in this case by piercing: through the hole, air circulation improves. There is also a useful bonus function - the ability to remove garbage from the cultivated area with the help of working tools. “Holes” here are small - no more than 3 cm, so they do not spoil the appearance of the cover at all.

Both types of devices can be found in the following interpretations.

1. Manual the variant is driven by the mechanical efforts of the user. Here we are talking more about scarifiers - some of them even have rotating mechanical wheels.
   

2. AT electric option mechanism drives the motor. Such a device can quickly overheat - every 10 minutes you need to stop in order for it to cool. Also, to the place of work you will need to pull the wires, so if possible, it is better to purchase a battery model.
   

3. Petrol The variant is autonomous and productive, however it makes a lot of noise when working.
   

What to choose for your lawn

In the question of what is better to choose from the proposed arsenal of aerators, you should focus on the area of ​​the treated area and soil properties:

• Verticutter is best used on soft soils;
• for dense soils it is best to buy a scarifier.

If the plot represents an area of ​​more than 5,000 square meters, then it is worthwhile to dwell on a self-propelled verticutter with hollow teeth. Depending on the model, they can process up to 4,000 square meters per hour. Another option for a large plot would be to use rear wheel hitch, which can be fastened to the Rider or garden tractor.

When using any type of aerator, you should definitely follow the instructions prescribed in the safety instructions when working.