Core Aeration

Soils with a high percentage of clay become very hard and compacted. This makes it difficult for water, fertilizer, air and grass roots to penetrate into the soil. Compaction also contributes to build-up of thatch. Aeration was created to solve this problem. Core aeration (also known as core cultivation, coring or plugging) is a process in which a machine pulls small plugs of soil about the size your finger from the lawn. These are left on the surface where they will break down in about two weeks. Golf course greenskeepers use this process several times a year to keep their courses in top playing condition. Lawns grown on clay soils should have this done once a year.

BENEFITS OF CORE AERATION

• Relieves soil compaction
  
• Increases water infiltration
  
• Stimulates new root development
  
• Improves turf thickness, vigor, and overall health
  
• Provides better fertilizer penetration into the root zone
  
• Increases air penetration into soil which increases soil microbe activity
  
• Increased microbe activity breaks down thatch