"Brandon Herlein" wrote in message ...
when is a good time to aerate your yard?
are there signs of when you need to aerate your yard?
how often should you aerate you yard?
are there some tips when aerating you yard??

Thanks


Spring, followed by early fall are the best times, at least for cool
season grasses. That's when the grass is growing rapidly. I'd pick a
time when the earth is damp, like a couple days after a rain, so you
get good penetration. I'd avoid doing it in the hot summer months.

If you can, I'd aerate it every year, however most people don't unless
they have the eqpt. Aeration breaks up compaction and allows air to
get into the soil, so if the soil is dense and compacted, it will
benefit the most from aeration.

I would rent a core aerator, which actually cuts plugs out of the
soil. The type that uses solid spikes is less effective, it isn't
removing soil, so while it makes some holes, it also just pushes the
soil aside, so that it's more compacted adjacent to the spike holes.

Also, be aware that if you have a sprinkler system, there's a good
chance you will wind up puncturing a pipe somewhere. Exact risk
depends on how deep the pipe was layed under the surface. Most guys
pull the pipe, and in tough area, like rocks, roots, etc, the pipe
winds up close to the surface.