My lawn service has suggested aeration of my lawn. This was back in
August and it is now October 20. They haven't doen it yet becasue they
claim to be "backed" up. I am in Pennsylvania and am wondering if there
is any value to having this done this year now with winter approaching.
Any suggestions/thoughts/comments?

Dean

On Thu, 20 Oct 2005 19:28:35 -0400, "Dean A. Markley"
wrote:

My lawn service has suggested aeration of my lawn. This was back in
August and it is now October 20. They haven't doen it yet becasue they
claim to be "backed" up. I am in Pennsylvania and am wondering if there
is any value to having this done this year now with winter approaching.
Any suggestions/thoughts/comments?

Dean

If you have less than a 1/2 inch of thatch and don't need reseeding,
I'd pass. If your lawn is new sod, I'd pass as well. Core aeration
is useful to punch through heavy thatch to allow moisture and
fertilizer get to the grass roots. It is a means to allow reseeding
get directly to the soil too. If you have a few hard spots, try
aeration by hand. You can get a hand aerator at one of the
borgs and it is a good tool to determine the amount of
thatch. Anytime you core aerate, you do open up the lawn
to weeds.

Hope this helps,

Thunder

soil in my area is soooo poor aeration helps whenever it is done.
However, usually done early autumn or spring. Esp useful if you plan to
top dress with top soil and reseed. Its a little too late to reseed in
this region now so it will have to wait ill spring. The plugs removed
during aeration can remain whereever they lie. Of course, the lawns
looks like FiFi did her business all over the place. Eventually the
plugs break down.
A word of warning .....my neighbor rented an aerator being a "DO It
yourself DUDE"
the soil here is also very rocky.....the thing richoceted to his face
breaking all his front teeth in half. Cost for set of 4 caps $4,000
buckeroos.

"Dean A. Markley" wrote:
My lawn service has suggested aeration of my lawn. This was back in
August and it is now October 20. They haven't doen it yet becasue they
claim to be "backed" up. I am in Pennsylvania and am wondering if there
is any value to having this done this year now with winter approaching.
Any suggestions/thoughts/comments?

Dean

YES! Aerate the hell out of it. The soil plugs will begin to break down
over the winter, when you're not using/cutting the lawn.

We do them up until the ground frezzes..then we start doing them again in
the spring.

I read one reply that said something about measuring your thatch layer to
determine if you need core aeration or not, he said something about 1/2
inch of thatch or less doesn't need it. I say bullshit! If you wait until
it's 1/2 inch or more, aeration won't cure it.

Some lawns need aeration every year, as a preventative to 1/2 inch of
thatch.

Aerate, aerate, aerate!

YMMV

On 23 Oct 2005 06:32:54 GMT, Steveo wrote:

"Dean A. Markley" wrote:
My lawn service has suggested aeration of my lawn. This was back in
August and it is now October 20. They haven't doen it yet becasue they
claim to be "backed" up. I am in Pennsylvania and am wondering if there
is any value to having this done this year now with winter approaching.
Any suggestions/thoughts/comments?

Dean

YES! Aerate the hell out of it. The soil plugs will begin to break down
over the winter, when you're not using/cutting the lawn.

We do them up until the ground frezzes..then we start doing them again in
the spring.

I read one reply that said something about measuring your thatch layer to
determine if you need core aeration or not, he said something about 1/2
inch of thatch or less doesn't need it. I say bullshit! If you wait until
it's 1/2 inch or more, aeration won't cure it.

I guess we have a point of disagreement. My info is from NC state
Agriculture. Thatch is a good thing until it begins to prevent
moisture and nutrients through. Keeps the lawn cool and acts
like a mulch. As usual, too much of a good thing becomes a
problem.

Also, use a mulching mower. The cuttings don't cause thatch if you
don't cut over 1/3 grass height.


Some lawns need aeration every year, as a preventative to 1/2 inch of
thatch.

Aerate, aerate, aerate!

YMMV

Rolling Thunder wrote:
On 23 Oct 2005 06:32:54 GMT, Steveo wrote:

"Dean A. Markley" wrote:
My lawn service has suggested aeration of my lawn. This was back in
August and it is now October 20. They haven't doen it yet becasue
they claim to be "backed" up. I am in Pennsylvania and am wondering
if there is any value to having this done this year now with winter
approaching.
Any suggestions/thoughts/comments?

Dean

YES! Aerate the hell out of it. The soil plugs will begin to break down
over the winter, when you're not using/cutting the lawn.

We do them up until the ground frezzes..then we start doing them again
in the spring.

I read one reply that said something about measuring your thatch layer
to determine if you need core aeration or not, he said something about
1/2 inch of thatch or less doesn't need it. I say bullshit! If you wait
until it's 1/2 inch or more, aeration won't cure it.

I guess we have a point of disagreement. My info is from NC state
Agriculture.

Does your source say anything about relieving compacted soil with aeration,
or is that just an added bonus to maintaining thatch with a core machine?

Steveo wrote:
Rolling Thunder wrote:

On 23 Oct 2005 06:32:54 GMT, Steveo wrote:


"Dean A. Markley" wrote:

My lawn service has suggested aeration of my lawn. This was back in
August and it is now October 20. They haven't doen it yet becasue
they claim to be "backed" up. I am in Pennsylvania and am wondering
if there is any value to having this done this year now with winter
approaching.
Any suggestions/thoughts/comments?

Dean


YES! Aerate the hell out of it. The soil plugs will begin to break down
over the winter, when you're not using/cutting the lawn.

We do them up until the ground frezzes..then we start doing them again
in the spring.

I read one reply that said something about measuring your thatch layer
to determine if you need core aeration or not, he said something about
1/2 inch of thatch or less doesn't need it. I say bullshit! If you wait
until it's 1/2 inch or more, aeration won't cure it.

I guess we have a point of disagreement. My info is from NC state
Agriculture.


Does your source say anything about relieving compacted soil with aeration,
or is that just an added bonus to maintaining thatch with a core machine?

Thanks everyone! I will say that I have very little thatch (good
muching mower. And the soil is compacted somewhat due to the temporary
road used during pool installation 3 years ago. I believe I will call
the lawn people and tell them to get their butts out here this week! I
might even get some new grass if the weather holds through Thanksgiving.

Dean

Dean A. Markley wrote:
Steveo wrote:

Rolling Thunder wrote:

On 23 Oct 2005 06:32:54 GMT, Steveo wrote:


"Dean A. Markley" wrote:

My lawn service has suggested aeration of my lawn. This was back in
August and it is now October 20. They haven't doen it yet becasue
they claim to be "backed" up. I am in Pennsylvania and am wondering
if there is any value to having this done this year now with winter
approaching.
Any suggestions/thoughts/comments?

Dean


YES! Aerate the hell out of it. The soil plugs will begin to break down
over the winter, when you're not using/cutting the lawn.

We do them up until the ground frezzes..then we start doing them again
in the spring.

I read one reply that said something about measuring your thatch layer
to determine if you need core aeration or not, he said something about
1/2 inch of thatch or less doesn't need it. I say bullshit! If you wait
until it's 1/2 inch or more, aeration won't cure it.


I guess we have a point of disagreement. My info is from NC state
Agriculture.


Does your source say anything about relieving compacted soil with
aeration,
or is that just an added bonus to maintaining thatch with a core machine?


Thanks everyone! I will say that I have very little thatch (good
muching mower. And the soil is compacted somewhat due to the temporary
road used during pool installation 3 years ago. I believe I will call
the lawn people and tell them to get their butts out here this week! I
might even get some new grass if the weather holds through Thanksgiving.

Dean
Apply gypsum to break up clay.