If the soil is heavily compacted, you should aerate your lawn. In this guide you will find out which devices are best suited for this purpose and how to aerate.

In a nutshell

  • aerating is done by hand or motorized
  • Device available with spoons or spikes
  • Device selection depends on the size of the area

Appropriate devices

If you want to aerate the lawn, you have a wide range of equipment at your disposal. You should select the appropriate aerating device depending on the size of the lawn area in order to achieve the best possible result. For this reason, two variants are ideal for small gardens:

  • lawn aerator shoes
  • hand aerator

Lawn aerator shoes are the cheapest way to aerate the lawn. These are sandals equipped with spikes on the sole, through which the ground is loosened. Depending on the model, you have to reckon with prices of 20 to 30 euros. The hand aerator is available from prices from 30 to 150 depending on the quality and is reminiscent of a spade fork. Note that the workload is significantly higher with these devices. For this reason, they are not suitable for large lawns. In this case, you should rely on the following variants:

  • aerator
  • motorized lawn aerators
areator

An aerator is a roller equipped with spoons or spikes for aerating. This guides you by hand over the lawn and the roller takes care of the aeration of the soil through the movement. Depending on the model, they resemble a lawn mower and are available for prices starting at 150 euros. Motorized lawn scarifiers work like aerators but are equipped with a motor, which significantly reduces the amount of work required. Depending on their size, they are suitable for medium to very large lawns and can even be pulled by tractors. They are usually available from prices of at least 2,000 euros.

Tip: So-called aerator rollers, which can be found in hardware stores and online shops, are not suitable for aerating. Aerator rollers are components of scarifiers that are not suitable for deep loosening of the soil.

spoons or spikes

Aerating involves digging up to four inches deep into the soil to loosen compacted soil and improve oxygenation. For this reason, the aerating devices are equipped with either hollow spoons or spikes. Hollow spoons are tubes that, after penetrating the soil, raise cones of earth to the surface, which are eventually removed, providing good aeration and loosening of the soil. Spikes, on the other hand, are basically long spikes that only dislodge the earth when they penetrate. Although this creates holes, which improves the soil quality, the excess soil remains in the soil. In the long run, this can also lead to compaction again, which is not ideal. For this reason, hollow spoons are better suited for aerating.

The displacement of the soil by the spikes can lead to new problems.

Materials & Utensils

In addition to the actual aeration device, you need other utensils and materials to aerate the lawn effectively. You cannot simply work on the lawn with the device, you have to prepare it and freshen it up after treatment. For this reason, you will need the following materials and utensils for the entire process:

  • mowing machine
  • wheelbarrow
  • rake
  • broom
  • Quartz sand (grain size 0-2)
  • sturdy shoes

time

When is the best time to aerate the lawn? Many lawn owners ask themselves this question. The timing depends on two factors:

  • condition of the lawn
  • part of the year

The need to aerate the lawn is determined by the condition of the lawn. That said, the following points indicate that you should aerate the lawn:

  • bad lawn growth
  • permanently not closed lawn area
  • Waterlogging recognizable (e.g. through puddles)
  • Lawn interspersed with lots of moss
  • Broad plantain (Plantago major) visible everywhere
  • unpleasant musty odor audible

You often have to struggle with these problems when it comes to heavy soil. On average, you need to aerate these more often than lighter soils. If you choose to aerate the lawn, the best times to do so are:

  • lightly used: March to April and September to October
  • heavily used: March to October every 4 weeks

Notice: Also, be careful not to aerate the lawn immediately after heavy rain or frost. Wet or frozen soil is much more difficult to remove and increases the workload immensely.

Aerating the lawn: instructions

Once it's time to aerate, you can get started right away. The following guide will help you with ventilation:

  • Mow the lawn thoroughly
  • Remove lawn clippings
  • Prepare lawn area with aerating device
  • about 200 holes per m² necessary
  • Guide the device in tracks across the lawn
  • don't step on cones of earth
  • Collect and dispose of the cone of earth at the end
  • sand the lawn
  • Apply about 5 liters of sand per m²
  • thoroughly into holes
  • Finally, water the lawn extensively

frequently asked Questions

What is the difference to scarifying?

Scarifying removes the thatch that has been able to form over a long period of time and restricts the lawn's ability to breathe. Lawn thatch also has a negative effect on the nutrient and water supply of the lawn, which makes maintenance more difficult. Scarifying isn't always enough, making aerating a necessity for particularly heavily used or neglected lawns.

How is the excess soil disposed of?

After aerating, there are numerous cones of earth on the lawn that you should definitely get rid of. The soil is simply added to the compost for further use, which binds excess moisture and supports rotting.

What is top dressing?

Topdressing is an advanced version of sanding to provide the lawn with significantly more nutrients. The sand is mixed with a fertilizer as a nutrient supplier and reseeded to close any gaps in the lawn. When topdressing, be careful not to use too much fertilizer. The amount of sand does not change.

Category:

Garden design