Gardening Tips

In Georgia we have what is known as heavy "red clay" soil. It tends to hold water when it rains and compacts down very hard when it dries. Over the course of the year, without aeration, this compaction can be devastating to your Bermuda and Zoysia turf grass root systems. Compacted soil can cause water and the nutrients of your fertilization program to runoff and wash away.

What is the solution? Core aeration of your Bermuda and Zoysia sod.

This process pulls tiny plugs out of the ground which form "miniature oasis's" that allow water, oxygen, and nutrients to penetrate the soil and reach your turf grass root zone. It loosens the soil so roots can spread out and go deeper into the soil. This is the same process that we use when we overseed your fescue in the fall. The only difference is that no seeding is necessary for warm season grass in the spring. Bermuda and Zoysia reproduce by "runners" known as rhizomes and stolons. Core aerating loosens the soil and gives these "runners" a chance to "root" and spread in the heavy clay soil. The aeration process is just as important for the sodded sections of your lawn in the early spring as aeration/overseeding is for your fescue in the fall.
 

When is the best time to aerate my warm season Bermuda and Zoysia?

The best time for warm season grass aeration is now, at the beginning of the growing season. Although the grass appears to be dormant, it is going through tremendous changes on the root zone level that will greatly affect its health and vitality during the critical spring green up. To get the maximum from your fertilization program and maintenance, aerate early in the spring after your 1st round of fertilization.
Aerating your Bermuda & Zoysia in the spring will make a huge difference in the appearance of your grass throughout the year! It maximizes the results of your fertilization program.