The lush green grass in the lawn looks undoubtedly beautiful, but it is the outcome of hard work and proper maintenance, which includes proper watering, adequate fertilising and balanced seeding. Apart from the routine maintenance tasks like watering and mowing the lawn, there's another vital caring task, "aeration", which promotes lush green grass growth in the lawn. In this blog, we primarily discuss "should you cut grass before aerating" along with other key tips.
Is Cutting Grass Before Aeration Beneficial?
It's one of the most common queries posed by many homeowners: whether they should cut the grass before aeration or after aeration. The simplest explanation is that you should cut the grass before aeration. The reason is that short grass will ensure smooth functioning of the aerator and will prevent any damage caused to the aerator. Also, on scattering the seed after aeration, the seed can make better contact with the soil if the grass is cut before aeration.
Why is Aerating Important?
Aerating the lawn at the right time is highly effective in maintaining a lush green lawn with deep-rooted grass. Here are some of the reasons which explain "why is aerating important" in detail:
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Aerating the lawn allows water to seep deep into the soil for healthy grass growth and less runoff. It helps save water bills due to minimal water wastage.
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Fertiliser and oxygen also penetrate deep down the roots after aeration.
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The lawn appears to be dense and beautiful.
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Soil compaction is a natural process which happens over the years, resulting in water wastage, dead patches and thinning grass. Aeration helps reduce soil compaction.
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Compact soil has slow water movement, which leads to moss buildup. Aeration helps control moss buildup.
Early Signs That the Lawn Requires Aeration
There are certain signs that indicate the need for aeration. Here are the signs:
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Stunted growth of grass in the lawn, along with spots.
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High foot traffic on the lawn. This could be because of kids and pets playing on the lawn.
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Water accumulation in the lawn in the form of standing water or excess water runoff.
Ideal Time to Aerate the Lawn
The best time of aeration depends on the type of grass and its growing season. For cool-season grass such as Fescue or Bluegrass, early spring or fall is the ideal time to aerate. Whereas, for warm-season grass such as Bermuda or Zoysia, the best time to aerate the lawn is late spring to early summer.
Prepare Your Lawn for Aeration and Seeding
Before aerating the lawn, it's important to consider certain tips for effective aeration.
Clear Debris From the Lawn
The primary step towards preparing the lawn is to rake off debris or leftover leaves from the lawn for smooth aeration.
Mow the Grass in the Lawn
It's vital to mow the grass in your lawn to a height of 2 inches before aeration. For a closer cut, lower the mower to 1.5 inches. It's recommended not to lower it beyond 1.5 inches as it may scalp your lawn. Mowing before aeration is important, and the reasons are already discussed in the heading after the introduction.
Water the Lawn to Keep the Soil Moist
A moist lawn is ideal for effective aeration, but make sure the lawn is neither too dry nor too soggy. This is because the aerator will not be able to cut the dry grass or pull out mud from the soggy soil.
Make a Note of the Things Which May Hinder the Operating Aerator
This is indeed an important thing to consider to ensure the smooth operation of the aerator. Mark any obstacles such as drainage pipes, electrical lines or any other objects buried a few inches within the ground. Highlight these areas with a wire flag for better visibility during aeration.
How to Aerate the Lawn?
Once the lawn is prepared for aeration (as discussed above), it's time to get into the real work, i.e. aeration. Set the mower to 1.5-2 inches above the ground for effective aeration and to avoid scalping the crown of the grass. Then, start the aeration work using a hand aerator or an aeration machine. It's advisable to go in two opposite directions to get enough holes.
The biggest advantage is that the aerator pulls small soil cores from the lawn, which helps in providing nutrients to the soil. It happens when cores are left in the lawn for two to four weeks to decompose.
What Should You Do After Aeration?
You can do overseeding, watering and fertilisation after aeration. Out of these three tasks, you should fertilise and overseed the lawn immediately after aeration, followed by watering. A few other tips you should follow are listed below:
Don't Rake Up the Plugs - It's recommended not to rake up the plugs lying in the lawn after aeration because they will automatically break down in a few weeks. Once broken, it'll provide nutrients to the soil.
Minimise Foot Traffic - Foot traffic should be avoided because it may ruin the newly aerated lawn and not allow grass to grow.
Maintain Proper Watering Schedule - The right watering timings are key to healthy grass growth. Water 20 minutes in the morning to ensure it doesn't evaporate. Also, avoid overwatering or underwatering. This is because overwatering can wash seeds away, and less watering can make the seed dry and prevent it from germinating.
