[Flynt2799]

Aerate or not to aerate, that is the question!

So I see this question on many different threads, followed by many different answers. Figured I would start this thread so that anyone with questions or inputs could ask away.

I'll start off by saying I have pretty compacted soil. Planning on leveling the lawn next weekend and just trying to find out if there are any benefits to aerate the lawn pre leveling or not.

 

[Movingshrub]

I think the answers depends on how the aerating is to be done. How do you plan to aerate?

 

[Flynt2799]

I think the answers depends on how the aerating is to be done. How do you plan to aerate?

I was just thinking rent an aerator from HD. Make a few passes than rake up all the plugs followed by my first sand application. Just can't decide if it's worth it or not.

 

[Movingshrub]

Got it. I wasn't sure if you were doing one of the spike style or with the hollow tines.

 

[Lacric333]

Aeration is a benefit for compaction, but should be incorporated in any good lawn maintenance program. One of the major benefit of aeration is exchange of oxygen with the soil. It's the same as when we have a stomach ache and take Tums. A build up of gas relief from the soil is needed.

 

[Mightyquinn]

If your soil is compacted then it's definitely worth doing but I always recommend aerating when you are doing a leveling project as it will help create channels in the soil for water and nutrients to get down to the roots it will also help reduce the chance of creating horizons in the soil with the sand. With only 2.8K of lawn, I would go over it as many times as you can and punch a bunch of holes. I have also found it easier to go in concentric circles with the aerator instead of trying to use it like a mower and making turns at the end of each pass. That thing is a beast to try and turn

 

[Flynt2799]

If your soil is compacted then it's definitely worth doing but I always recommend aerating when you are doing a leveling project as it will help create channels in the soil for water and nutrients to get down to the roots it will also help reduce the chance of creating horizons in the soil with the sand. With only 2.8K of lawn, I would go over it as many times as you can and punch a bunch of holes. I have also found it easier to go in concentric circles with the aerator instead of trying to use it like a mower and making turns at the end of each pass. That thing is a beast to try and turn

Well it's settled...I'm renting the aerator :thumbup:

I did the screw driver test today and literly have a blister on my palm from having to put so much pressure down throughout the yard.

 

[SCGrassMan]

If it's been more than a year since last aeration, aerate.

 

[Flynt2799]

If it's been more than a year since last aeration, aerate.

We built the house three years ago and it has never been done.

 

[Flynt2799]

Here is a couple plugs pulled for soil sample. Both hard as a rock.

 

[SCGrassMan]

Aerate, milorganite, and sand

 

[DeliveryMan]

Question to piggyback on this::

My sod was laid in Dec 2016 -- it has taken root quite well and you can't really see any lines of the sod borders anymore, but is it still too soon to be aerating, or am I good this year..

I was hoping to do an aeration and leveling in Late may/early june, but will do just the leveling if you guys think its too early.

 

[DeliveryMan]

And another question::

Does anybody know how deep they bury the cables for your TV from the street to the house.. I know where the cable from the street to the house is, but would hate to hit it with an aerator cause I know it would take a month to get AT&T to come back out

 

[SCGrassMan]

And another question::

Does anybody know how deep they bury the cables for your TV from the street to the house.. I know where the cable from the street to the house is, but would hate to hit it with an aerator cause I know it would take a month to get AT&T to come back out

About 12", but you should really do call before you dig. You could definitely wait on the aeration and sanding but you could definitely do it now as well.

 

[c0mical]

Question to piggyback on this::

My sod was laid in Dec 2016 -- it has taken root quite well and you can't really see any lines of the sod borders anymore, but is it still too soon to be aerating, or am I good this year..

I was hoping to do an aeration and leveling in Late may/early june, but will do just the leveling if you guys think its too early.

The last thing you want is your sod getting pulled up by the core aerator. If a piece is only half rooted, it may pull it up and tear all the roots in the process. I would wait as late as possible this spring to do it to make sure everything is rooted well.

I am talking from experience

 

[Mightyquinn]

Question to piggyback on this::

My sod was laid in Dec 2016 -- it has taken root quite well and you can't really see any lines of the sod borders anymore, but is it still too soon to be aerating, or am I good this year..

I was hoping to do an aeration and leveling in Late may/early june, but will do just the leveling if you guys think its too early.

And another question::

Does anybody know how deep they bury the cables for your TV from the street to the house.. I know where the cable from the street to the house is, but would hate to hit it with an aerator cause I know it would take a month to get AT&T to come back out

I think you are good to go this year to aerate, when I moved into my house in February of 2006, I paid TruGreen to aerate my front lawn in the early Summer without any issue and it was a lot newer than yours so I think you are safe.

I don't think you will be hitting any cables as the aerator will only go down to 4" MAX and I even doubt you will get that deep with it. I don't know how AT&T is with coming out to fix stuff but Spectrum(Time Warner) has been pretty good around here to get out and fix things. But I highly doubt they didn't bury the cable deep enough. If it is COAX cable you could fix it yourself if you did happen to cut the line.

 

[Fishnugget]

Great thread...

I was also thinking about aerating. I laid down sod in my backyard back in Nov. 2017. Is it too early to aerate or should I hold the aeration and leveling for fall? Should I allow my grass more time to get established. I know its rooted, I doubt I will have any uprooting.

 

[Flynt2799]

Great thread...

I was also thinking about aerating. I laid down sod in my backyard back in Nov. 2017. Is it too early to aerate or should I hold the aeration and leveling for fall? Should I allow my grass more time to get established. I know its rooted, I doubt I will have any uprooting.

Everything that I have read and heard says that as long as you can't oull the pieces of sod up you are good. Had a neighbor a couple houses down aerate 1 month after having his sod put down and it handled it surprisingly well. Some areas pulled up but he just matted them back down.

 

[Flynt2799]

Has anybody used or have experience with liquid aerating? Reading reviews on amazon but never know how well you can trust them.

 

[Ridgerunner]

https://thelawnforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=2396