Lawn Aeration?

Dear AllI scarified a lawn about two months ago and it has been very slow to recover. Large patches of grass have died and I think that the scarifier has highlighted an underlying problem -- that the lawn is very compacted in places. The patches are random in shape and are not in straight lines where I would have expected damage done by a scarifier to occur. This is the first time I have scarified this lawn (it was long overdue) and my customer is somewhat upset!I don't believe that the patches are caused by fungal problems as the grass around them appears "normal". The customer has been watering the lawn (which is on a gentle slope) but the dead patches have not recovered. Some overseeding has been done but without success.I am looking to hire an aerator (preferably with solid tines as the ground is very stony) and I was wondering if anyone could point me in the direction of the best place to get one. I refuse to hire from HSS (poorly maintained machines, rubbish service, expensive etc) and my normal hire company (D&S ToolHire - who could not be better on service or price) does not have one.The area my business operates in is the South Bucks/Berkshire borders (Slough).Thanks in advance for your time, I am extremely grateful! I am hoping that aerating will please my customer who I have worked for for several years previously and for many years to come.-Nick

Its hind site and is dependant on the condition of the lawn. ie moss etc. But scarify is best carried out during the autumn. During the spring, scarification will damage the new grass rhizomes and hence cause a slow recovery of the lawn. The hot weather will not have helped either. I have had the same with a very moss ridden garden. Just overseeded and top dressed with a loam to protect the seed and offer a beter base for growth. Back to the dead patches, can you lift them? Have they been appearing over time? ie continued discolourtion. It could be chafers bugs but they would have caused damage mid to late last year as the beetles are just laying eggs at present. Or it could be the daddy long legs, cant remeber there name. There cycle is opposite the chafer so it could be them. Best way to find out if they are infested is to wet the ground thoroughly and put a black sheet down on the lawn. Lift the sheet the next morning and the larvae should be on top of the grass.
Aeration will only loosen the soil and provide a oxygen release into the soil. It will improve drainage. it will also allow room for root growth. I hollow tine, but True Green etc tend to solid tine. Less time on site clearing up cores.

Replies

Dale Pellatt June 24, 2009 at 8:32pm

Its hind site and is dependant on the condition of the lawn. ie moss etc. But scarify is best carried out during the autumn. During the spring, scarification will damage the new grass rhizomes and hence cause a slow recovery of the lawn. The hot weather will not have helped either. I have had the same with a very moss ridden garden. Just overseeded and top dressed with a loam to protect the seed and offer a beter base for growth. Back to the dead patches, can you lift them? Have they been appearing over time? ie continued discolourtion. It could be chafers bugs but they would have caused damage mid to late last year as the beetles are just laying eggs at present. Or it could be the daddy long legs, cant remeber there name. There cycle is opposite the chafer so it could be them. Best way to find out if they are infested is to wet the ground thoroughly and put a black sheet down on the lawn. Lift the sheet the next morning and the larvae should be on top of the grass.
Aeration will only loosen the soil and provide a oxygen release into the soil. It will improve drainage. it will also allow room for root growth. I hollow tine, but True Green etc tend to solid tine. Less time on site clearing up cores.
Graeme @ BGS June 24, 2009 at 9:43pm

Nick - Did you feed the lawn after scarification? I did get similar results to your problem but the last few years I always pump out a good feed and never had a problem since.

Have found overseeding in Berkshire to be slower germination this year - got mixed results but those clients that really watered the lawns the results are fairly good.

Check out D&D hire - should only be a 40 minute drive for you - I am sure they hire out aerators other option is Wyevale.

There are differnt schools of toughts as to when is the best time to scarify. Personally I would aim for September into October in an ideal world but more than happy aand do scarify from very late March to end of April. All down to why you want to scarify and what additional treatments you will be undertaking.

I had a client that Greenthumb wanted to scarify their lawn in December! I did manage to get them to reschedule.
PRO

Nick @ NM Garden Services Ltd June 24, 2009 at 9:59pm

Thanks, I will check out D&D tomorrow (Thurs). I fed the lawns using Scotts Sportsmaster Pro before scarifing to kill the moss first and give the lawns a bit of a boost.

I may also try overseeding with pre-germinated seed (which I have already used this year without problems but need to keep a check on how much I'm spending!

Once again, thanks. I'll keep you updated with progress :)

BGS LTD said:
Nick - Did you feed the lawn after scarification? I did get similar results to your problem but the last few years I always pump out a good feed and never had a problem since.

Have found overseeding in Berkshire to be slower germination this year - got mixed results but those clients that really watered the lawns the results are fairly good.

Check out D&D hire - should only be a 40 minute drive for you - I am sure they hire out aerators other option is Wyevale.
Graeme @ BGS June 24, 2009 at 10:21pm

As I mentioned above, I always apply a feed after scarification as this greatly speeds the rate of grass recovery. It makes such a difference.

Probably like you, I always offer to re-seed again if I don't get a good germination rate but having quite a few lawns that had poor results due to clients not watering this year - I am being to consider putting in a clause to cover this else it gets very expensive! :-(

Just checked D&D web site - they mention Lawn Airators & Scarrifiers - Have only used them for when the ride on went in for service and was impressed with the quality. Also check out Farnborough Tool Hire - only another 10 mins from D&D but they only do Hollow Tine I believe and should be a bit cheaper then D&D
PRO

Nick @ NM Garden Services Ltd June 25, 2009 at 6:21pm

Thanks BGS. DD Hire were very helpful. I can hire a solid tine aerator for around £90 + Vat for the week so this is what I will probably do :)

Do you apply a liquid feed or a granular feed after you scarify?

Thank you!
Graeme @ BGS June 25, 2009 at 7:16pm

I guess you will now be booking work for the solid tine aerator for all of next week. Always nice if you can get a few extra jobs out of equipment if you have to hire it!.

With regards to feed. I tend to go for granular but would spray if I knew the client (or mother nature) wouldn't water or if I wanted to give a higher dose of N.
PRO

Nick @ NM Garden Services Ltd June 25, 2009 at 8:04pm

Yup, things might actually work in my favour. I always try and find work for hired equipment to make extra money/work for the business, marking up all costs along the way!