A Variety of Lawn Aeration Methods

Good lawn aeration does not have to be a symphony of scientific algorithms and high tech gadgets. Nature does a good job of keeping the soil light and fluffy; it is when humans come into the picture and unknowingly make the problem worse when, in the interest of a beautifully manicured lawn, they actually compact the soil. There are methods useful for garden lovers who want to take a hands-on approach to this matter and also methods for the gardener who would like the lawn to take care of itself as much as possible.

For the person who likes gadgets, any hardware store carries proper lawn aerating equipment. They just need to be used about once per month throughout the growing season. For the person who is not interested in adding another step to their lawn care routine, golf shoes can be a good tool to use. If a push mower is used to mow the lawn, the golf shoes will push little holes into the sod as it is walked upon. Be sure that the shoes have metal spikes in them if this method is to work. If lawn work is the gardeners main method of exercise, they can add to that routine by taking a walk around the yard while carrying a stick that has been modified with a long nail or other sharp implement on the end of it. As they stroll, the sharp end is poked into the ground every few steps, causing aeration.

Weeds are the enemy of people who love to see a large expanse of green carpet in front of their home, but these weeds need to be seen through new eyes. It is near impossible to keep weed seeds from sprouting in the yard, so when they are found, the gardener should realize that the long taproots of most lawn weeds leave air pockets after they are gone. Aeration methods come in all shapes and sizes, and it is a good idea to use more than one kind.