Aerating

The effect of aerating

"So that the lawn can breathe again"

The problems: mosses, weeds 

You put a lot of effort into taking care of your lawn, but year after year you have the same problem: Mosses hide the beautiful ornamental lawn, the grass turns brown, weeds like dandelions and daisies ruin the image of your perfect lawn. It's not uncommon for amateur gardeners to come up with solutions to these problems, such as "lawn scarifying" and "destroying weeds". However, these usually only offer short-term help. Although scarifying the surface of the lawn frees it from mosses, this alone is not enough in many cases. The cause of weeds spreading on the lawn is usually due to weakened sod, as the grass doesn't get enough air. Chemical-based weed killers also damage your lawn for a long time. As with the human immune system, viruses (weeds) can only take root when the lawn is weak. Rainwater cannot drain off and floods the surface. The grass roots don't get enough water while the greenery is in the water.

Possible reason: waterlogging

For example, one very annoying attacker is moss. It spreads quite quickly and uncompromisingly overgrows the beautiful lawn. The reason for this is often waterlogging. This is usually caused by a heavy compaction of the earth, for example by impenetrable clay or loamy soils. The rainwater accumulates or the groundwater pushes up from the bottom - the result is root death. Once the soil is so compacted that the rainwater can no longer drain properly into the soil, it remains on the surface – a good breeding ground for lichen. By removing these mosses, you only achieve a temporary effect. In the long run, another solution must be found: the lawn must be able to breathe again. Through the holes, the water gets to the roots - the water balance regenerates.

The solution: Aerating the lawn

In order to properly care for your lawn, it's helpful to familiarize yourself with how aerating the lawn works. Although scarifying is much more well-known, aerating is an indispensable measure to make the lawn shine again with a healthy green color. The method of aerating was invented even before scarifying, almost a century ago - namely in 1946 by Tom Mascaro. The aerator, on the other hand, was only launched on the market by Mascaro in 1955. In order to ensure a perfect lawn, it's necessary for you to perform a deep-acting loosening and drainage of the soil. This is done via aerators, because by using the "Spikes" you can penetrate into the earth and provide the necessary ventilation.

Here, a basic distinction is made here between two systems: the "spikes" can either consist of solid material (i.e. nails) or be constructed like sleeves, i.e. hollow. The hollow tines from the Lawnpecker can be used to replace the soil, so the cores (plugs of soil) collected in the collecting trough are disposed of and replaced with, for example, sand, compost or turf soil. Full spoons, like the ones in the Lawnclaw, work according to the displacement principle; you provide the soil with air for the necessary gas exchange without removing soil.

The right time

Aeration should only be carried out when the lawn is fully in growth. It's best if the lawn has the strength to be able to close the resulting gaps quickly before unwanted grasses and weeds poke through.

This is best achieved when no hot and dry periods are expected. Ideally, the lawn should be moist, but not wet when you work on it. It's then that aerating works best. Also in the early autumn the conditions are optimal to ventilate the lawn again. In any case, you should pay attention to the local weather conditions, as regionally different aeration times are important. You can read about how to use the aerator correctly and how it works in general under the link How the Lawnpecker works. After only a few weeks, the lawn has rooted through the sand holes.

The subsequent care

It doesn't stop after the piercing of the holes. In order for the roots to develop optimally, you should sweep washed sand into the resulting holes. By this method of processing, the soil gets permanent drainage so that the rainwater can penetrate faster and deeper into the soil. You will therefore prevent further waterlogging and the drying, sandy lawn surface protects the underlying topsoil from rapid dehydration. It's advisable to add lawn seeds and fertilizer to the sand, then you'll get excellent results after a short recovery time.

The advantages of the Lawnpecker at a glance

• A stable universal basic construction and specially designed grooving tubes with hardened cutting rings - they don't become dull, and the excavated material doesn't get stuck in them.
• Low effort required for the pricking - due to the special design of the aerator. In addition, the pricking is optimally dissipated.
• Thanks to the plastic collecting trough, there are no soil residues left on the grass.
• This method of processing gives the lawn permanent drainage so that rainwater can penetrate faster and deeper into the soil.
• Waterlogging is prevented. In addition, the drying, sandy lawn surface protects the underlying topsoil from drying out too quickly.
• Excellent results by subsequent fertilizing, re-seeding and a short recovery time