Lawn Core Aeration

Core Aeration, is the removal of ‘cores’ or ‘plugs’ from the soil profile. This can be done by using specialist equipment, or even by hand such as the ‘3 Tine Core Aerator’ from Reel Solutions.

Why do we Core Aerate lawns?

Core Aeration is a fundamental lawn care technique designed to improve soil structure and improve grass quality, by promoting healthier roots. Over time, soil can become compacted due to foot traffic, cars parking on lawns etc. limiting the movement of air, water, and nutrients within the soil, and in turn limiting root development. This process alleviates the compaction, enhances root development, allows water, air, and nutrients into the soil profile, and encourages beneficial microorganisms within the soil.

When is Core Aerating done?

Core Aerating can be done at the end of Winter, and all the way through the growing season. For warm season varieties such as Kikuyu, Couch, Zoysia etc. this is Spring through to Autumn. It is best to Core Aerate after a light watering. This will ensure the cores are removed fully from the soil, as dry soil will crumble and not be removed. If you wish to relieve compaction through Winter when your lawn is dormant, it is best practice to use ‘Solid Tine Aerating’ as the lawn will recover more quickly. This type of aerating can also be done with a pitchfork.

What is done after Core Aerating?

After Core Aerating, the lawn will have lots of holes from where the plugs were removed, and the surface will covered in all of these plugs that were taken from the soil. If the Core Aerating is the only service we are doing, raking through these cores and breaking them up is best practice. This not only removes the unsightly look from your lawn, but also puts the loosened soil containing nutrients back into the soil profile.

If your soil structure is poor (Such as layers of Brickies Sand and Builders rubble that compact), topdressing your lawn and filling those core holes with a ‘Washed Plasterers Sand) to assist with drainage, compaction, and root development, or a sand/soil 80:20 mix to add organic matter to the soil will be extremely beneficial.