Jim wrote:
wrote:
Jim wrote:
Tracy Viles wrote:
[....]
has anyone seen lawn improvement after areration?
[....]
as for aeration types,
[....]
First, you can rent a core aerator for around $50.00 for 3 hours and you
really only need to do it once a year. If you get a neighbor or 2 to go
in on it with you, it'll, of course, cost you much less and you should
be able to actually profit.
Second, the star aerator does slice the roots and kind of encourages new
growth but it does nothing for the compaction of the soil, and actually
causes more lateral compaction, so the new roots have nowhere to go.
the OP had an open question and a hidden question. I have given a
direct response to the OP while you and the others in this thread
have not.
now I have several direct questions for you. how many different
turf types do you manage? how many different soil types do you
encounter? how many satisfied customers do you have currently
under contract within your lawn care business?
please further explain your conceptual meaning behind your
expression of "be able to actually profit" when sharing rental
expenses with your neighbors.
Here's his query: "Kansas lawn and zero turn toro. Should I buy a pull
behind areator or is this a waste of money? If one areates enough does
it have any smoothing effect? Lawn is 9/10th's of a acre. Looking at the
Home Depot Brinly 40 inch pull behind.
Thanks, Tracy "
Answer to 1st question: No a pull behind is not a waste of time as long
as you get a good quality aerator.
Answer to 2nd question: Yes, it can have the effect of smoothing the
lawn with enough aerations. For that, and it depends on how rough your
lawn is, I recommend aerating once in the spring and once in the fall
for a couple of years. Then go to fall aeration only as this is the most
beneficial time for the turf.
Now as for your questions, since you seem to be questioning my
knowledge: "how many different turf types do you manage?"
My customers have predominantly fescue, perrenial rye, bluegrass mixes.
I have a couple who have Zoysia, and no they don't mind the fall
brownout since this is a warm season grass being used in a colder
environment. I deal with everything from very clay soil, which get
regular amendments with the core aeration, to properties with 12 to 14
inches of very good loamy, well drained soil.
Next: "how many satisfied customers do you have currently
under contract within your lawn care business?"
I currently have 65 active customers who claim to be very satisfied with
their lawns and who regularly comment about how their turf has improved
since we took over their lawncare.
Next: "please further explain your conceptual meaning behind your
expression of "be able to actually profit" when sharing rental
expenses with your neighbors."
I currently charge $14.00 per 1000 sq ft of turf for core aeration. If
he were to charge his neighbors by the sq footage and at a reduced rate
from what I charge, he could still make back the daily rental fee many
times over. That is with him doing the actual work, of course.
Thank you for your concern though.
Another point, the only time I know that slicing the lawn is beneficial,
is when slice seeding.
Maybe you deal with different types of turf than I do but I think the
principals are the same.