Aeration of Lawns
Grass Aeration & Spiking Service
One of the biggest issues I come across is compacted lawns. Heavy foot traffic (walkway to garden office, kids playing footfall) cause the soil to compact and the grass to die.
Soil – in particular heavy, clay-based soil – has a tendency to become compacted over time. The soil particles get pushed closer together by heavy rainfall and/or footfall on the surface making it difficult for moisture and essential gases to flow freely and reach the roots of your grass. This can lead to under-developed roots, weak grass, and poor disease / drought tolerance.
Hollow Tine Aeration
Solid Tine Aeration
Soil aeration services
Compacted soil can have serious consequences for your lawn, but this problem can be easily solved by aerating the soil. Our lawn aerator service is available in Surrey.
Mr Lawn uses professional grass aeration machines that move across the surface of the lawn and punch metal spikes (tines) 2-3 inches into the ground. This creates hundreds of tiny holes in the ground and loosens compacted soil. If necessary, hollow tines can be used to pull a soil core out of the ground – this helps to remove troublesome thatch as well as aerating the lawn.
Hollow Tine Aeration - Removal of cores (round plugs of soil and grass). These cores would be racked up or left on the soil to break down or when dry go over them with a lawnmower. The grass should be cut as short as possible before aeration.
Hollow Tine Aeration
Solid Tine Aeration - Punching holes into the ground without removing the core. The action of the machine kicks back in the soil which relieves the compaction. The great advantage of solid tine aeration is that there are no cores to clean you. This makes it a perfect option to use as your yearly lawn maintenance program.
Lawns should be regularly aerated so grassroots can develop healthily.
Will lawn aeration help prevent waterlogging?
Compaction caused by heavy footfall and/or rainfall can create slow-draining areas that hold water and form muddy puddles. Look for a sticky covering of paste-like soil on the surface of your lawn – if you see this, you may have a waterlogging problem.
Waterlogging relief can be achieved by aerating the soil to a depth of 4 inches, then filling the holes with sandy top dressing to act as miniature ventilation shafts. This will improve the flow of air and water to the grass’s roots and prevent water damage.
When should I have my lawn aerated?
Aeration can take place anytime during the year as long as the soil isn't muddy. With a regular maintenance plan, lawn aeration services should be carried out in the autumn with a potassium-rich feed used to assist root development.
After an autumn grass aeration service, your lawn may look worse for a little while, but this won’t be the case forever. After a short period of recovery, your lawn should grow back looking stronger, healthier and more vibrant than ever! Sounds good, right?
No matter what condition your lawn is in, we at Mr Lawn can help to get it growing green and healthy. Our seasonal lawn treatments are available in most parts of Surrey, including Fetcham, Leatherhead, Guildford, Bookham, Cobham, Woking etc...
At Mr Lawn, we pride ourselves on our open and honest transparency. As such, we will be more than happy to provide a free, no-obligation survey of your lawn to help you decide on the best course of action for you.
To find out more about our variety of specialist / seasonal lawn treatments, choose from the options below or complete our Online Treatment Form.