Timing your aeration/de-compaction operations
What’s the best practice for timing your aeration/ decompaction operations?
A decompaction/aeration operation can cause direct stress to the plant, so the task should ideally be carried out when the grass is growing and has the ability to recover.
The ground conditions need to be firm enough that the surface isn’t damaged by the machine, but moist enough to allow the tines into the rootzone.
Aeration/decompaction occurs through improvement of the turf and soil, allowing carbon dioxide and oxygen exchange as well as moisture and nutrients to move through the soil. Larger pore spaces created by decompaction allow for growth of grass roots through the soil, resulting in stronger plants with deeper and denser root systems.
There are many types of operations to achieve aeration/decompaction and each will have advantages and disadvantages, the choice will depend on factors such as:
- The type of surface and sport
- Drainage of water through the surface and into the soil
So when is best? - “When the grass is growing and has the ability to recover” is what we would recommend as best practice to avoid damage and allow your pitch to recover effectively, but don’t forget, in order for decompaction to take place the soils need to be friable, these tasks if mistimed can do more harm than good.
