Soil Compaction
Thatch | Shade | Shade Tree Decline | Weeds | Soil Compaction | Surface Insects | Grubs
You know how difficult it would be to run a race wearing a nose clip... and how hard it would be to eat if your jaw were wired shut.
These are the conditions grass has to grow in when the soil becomes compacted. Compaction occurs when soil particles get squashed together from gravity, foot or other traffic and even rain. The result is soil which is often as hard as a brick.
Some of the specific problems caused by compaction are:
- fewer and smaller pore spaces for root growth, water, and air penetration.
- water logged areas because water can't drain through
- soil that warms very slowly in the spring and overheats in the summer due to lack of insulating air spaces
- smaller area from which plants can draw nutrients because roots are not able to expand through hard soil
- roots mature and die faster
- lawns thin and growth slows down
- plants have lower food reserves and are more vulnerable to wear and disease.
The easiest and most practical solution to these problems is to core aerate the lawn on a regular basis. Golf courses do this several times a year, but home lawns normally do well with one aeration yearly in the spring or fall.
Core aeration is done by a machine which pulls up many small plugs of soil about 3 inches long. These are left on top of the lawn to break down and provide a top dressing. The holes allow air, water, and nutrients to penetrate and give grass roots a place to grow.
Call our office 260-338-1893 to have your lawn scheduled.
14409 Plank Street, Fort Wayne, IN 46818 260-338-1893