Core Aeration: Getting to the Root of Lawn Problems
Carol A. Crotta
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Core aeration is removing two- to three-inch plugs of grass and soil and depositing them on the lawn. Going over the lawn twice with the aeration machine so that the holes are two inches apart is a good idea.
Annual core aeration can loosen compacted soil and allow water to infiltrate deeper into the ground.
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What about sprinklers?
Recommendation: Core aeration, a process where plugs of soil and grass are removed at regular intervals, can be done either by renting equipment or hiring a professional. A cool, dry fall day is the perfect time for this beneficial chore.
Core aeration increases contact between seeds and soil, improving germination and helping establish the new grass more quickly.
Core aeration should not be preformed on lawns that are totally brown/dormant as the result of water restrictions. It is unlikely that plugs can even be pulled from hard soil unless soaked by several days of intensive watering.
Core aeration is not part of routine lawn care, but you definitely want to fix any problems that threaten the life of a healthy lawn. There's an old saw that you can check soil compaction by trying to slide a wooden matchstick into your soil.
There are several methods of aeration, but core aeration is the most popular. Core aeration utilizes a power-driven machine or other device to drive core tines into the ground.
 See also: Aeration, Water, Soil, Grass, Plant
  
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