What Is an Aerator?
An aerator is a tool used for perforating the lawn, creating pathways for air to flow. This process is known as aeration.
There are two methods of aeration: “spiking” and “core aeration.”
Spiking involves using an aerator called a “lawn spike” to manually puncture holes in the lawn. This method is convenient and suitable for areas of the average household size.
Core aeration, on the other hand, uses a specialized tool to penetrate the lawn and extract portions of the soil. While it takes more time compared to spiking, it is highly effective. New soil is typically added to the locations where the soil is extracted.
Additionally, automatic aerators are now available, eliminating the need for manual operation.
Uses of Aerator
Aerators are used when perforating the lawn.
The reason for creating holes is to prevent the soil beneath the lawn from becoming oxygen-deprived, which can lead to reduced permeability. Once the lawn is established, it becomes challenging to cultivate the soil beneath it. Consequently, the soil gradually becomes compacted, leading to root suffocation. To prevent this, pathways for air circulation are created, and the soil may be exchanged with fresh soil.
Through aeration, benefits such as supplying oxygen to the soil, improving water drainage, stimulating root metabolism, and preventing diseases and issues can be achieved.
In essence, aerators are used to supply oxygen to the soil, alleviate soil compaction, and promote the growth of the lawn, all to enhance the soil’s health.