As the grass thins due to poor growing conditions, the bare soil will heat up during the summer months. This can lead to shallow root systems, and a turfgrass that is prone to easily wilt. When the soil dries during droughty conditions or following improperly irrigated turf, a compacted soil will be hard to wet because of poor water infiltration. Under these conditions, soil compaction can increase if the traffic patterns are not adjusted, and the turf quality will decline due to a lack of soil oxygen and disease pressure. During periods of continuous rainfall or on overwatered turf areas, the soil will remain wet. Reduced water percolation rates due to compaction, commonly termed poor drainage, will make turf management more difficult, especially with irrigation scheduling. On level surfaces, reduced infiltration will cause ponding of water, increased water loss through evaporation, and an increase in disease pressure. Reducing water infiltration into a soil will lead to water runoff and an increase in soil erosion. Over time, these compacted soils will tend to hold more water however, water infiltration and percolation into and through the soil are greatly reduced. The problem starts when the top 4 to 6 inches of the soil become compressed or compacted.
Insects, diseases, nematodes, improper watering, lack of fertilizer, and poor turfgrass management are often blamed for a lawns decline when the real culprit is soil compaction. Soils can also become compacted during residential or commercial construction process due to movement of heavy equipment of the lawn. This traffic includes human activity, pet runs or vehicular movement. Traffic over a lawn or specific areas of a lawn is probably the leading factor in soil compaction. Soil compaction can severely restrict turfgrass growth and can arise in lawns from a variety of events. Homeowners often overlook problems associated with soil compaction. It is up to you to decide which is best for you! I like numbers 4 and 5 the best as far as spike aerators go. They are easier to use than the foot push aerators and have better coverage. They are heavy enough to penetrate the surface and go deep enough to make a difference. These aerators have a solid metal core that can be filled with water or sand to allow better penetration. The only disadvantage to these is that they are extremely time-to consume and strenuous to use.ĥ) The rolling barrel spike aerator. They are durable, affordable and you will get great results. These will go deep enough to have a positive effect. They are easier to use, but unless they have a lot of extra weight on them, they may not penetrate very deeply.Ĥ) Hand and foot push spikes. These roll on the ground and provide better coverage. The advantage is that they are affordable and only range from 10 to $ 30.ģ) Push spike Aerator. Also, the coverage is only slightly better than the mower wheel. Don’t buy these!Ģ) Spiked lawn aerator shoes- These are slightly better, but still the spikes are to narrow and small to do a whole lot of good. They only cover a tiny 2 inches are per pass and the spikes are so small it is doubtful the even go deep enough to do any good. In this article, we will describe them in order of effectiveness.ġ) Lawn mower wheel spikes are the least effective. Some of them have little or no positive effects on your lawn. The truth is there are five different types of spike lawn aerators. This antifreeze is animal friendly.You may be wondering if spike aerators really work, how spike aerators compare to lawn aerators, and which ones will work the best for my lawn? If you would rather winterize your aerator, add in ASC # 33470 RV and Marine antifreeze to prevent the water from freezing. Remember to drain your drum for the winter.
Field Cultivator Points & Reversible Points.