Aeration is the process of poking thousands upon thousands of holes in the soil. After a years worth of the kids playing and water packing the soil down, nutrients simply can make their way to the roots. Poking holes in the soil will allow water, oxygen and other nutrients to penetrate the roots of your lawn.
There are two types of aerating devices. One with spikes and one with plugs. The devices with spikes are generally pulled by a tractor and do little to penetrate the hard packed clay over much of the southeast. Ask for a “core aerator”. These machines have hollow spoons which pull up plugs of soil as the machine moves.
The process is much like mowing the grass. Twice. Yes you’ll want to aerate your lawn in one direction and then go back over your lawn at 90º. This criss-cross pattern should give you the necessary 12 holes per square foot.
Wondering when you should aerate Bermuda?
Aerate in the fall and you’ll have a lawn full of weeds or rouge grass. This will be a thorn in your side until late in the summer when the Bermuda finally takes back the lawn by force. Therefore, aerate your bermuda grass in the early summer when your lawn is growing quickly. After aerating an application of fertilizer and a deep watering will help your lawn to recover quickly.
I have raised my blade on my mower and my bermuda seems to be getting thinner. Should I lower it. \Will that help thicken it up or do I need to add some topsoil,
I would say yes. Bermuda generally does best when cut low and often. You probably already know it likes lots of sun too.
i cut my Bermuda every 2 weeks same day.growth 3 3-1/2 i keep the cut at 2 in.my grass browns and green,more brown. With-in 4-5 days back to a nice green ,very nice deep green 7-9 then cut on the 14th.i bought a mclane reel mower that cuts 1/4 to 1 1/4 .should i cut low and add sand for leveling during the fall winter .Then cut every week at 1 1/4 in the spring every week?
You should never remove more than a 1/3 when you mow-so you need to mow more often, bermuda should be cut at a height of no more than 2 inches, usually 1 1/2 is better. So that would mean your grass should never get above about 2.5 inches before you mow. Mow more and you yard will thank you!
I livein Atlanta and my Bermuda gets early day sun. Here it is April and my yards seems to be the last to green up, how can I find out if it is missing a particular nutrient ?
My Bermuda lawn ( Princess 77) will be 2 years old this May. Should I verticut it and put down a top dressing ?
i have bermuda grass and it has several spots in it where it’s just dirt and grass will not grow. Do u have any suggestions on what to do to get my already grass greener and more grass to grow in those dirt spots?
Does putting play sand on bermuda grass really help,,,and when is it reccommended
I think sanding along with aerating does help. I play golf they do it to greens…..
My question is that I have just aerated and sanded my yard. Do I keep it cut very low or let it grow. And for how long?
Thanks for any advise.
Jimmy
This is my first Bermuda lawn and the guy that laid it didn’t roll the ground first, thus I have alot of low spots making the use of my push reel mower a chore. After reading some of the comments, I gather I could cut my lawn a little shorter, add some sand and this will eventually level the lawn? Any advice would be most welcome
This is my first Bermuda lawn having had fescue up in PA. I now live in NC.
I have some low spots and when I mow, it seems to scalp certain spots. If I set my mower at 3 1/2 inches, it looks good but seem too high to me. A landscaper recommended filling in with sand. Is this recommended? Should I do it after aeration in the Spring?
Thanks for the help.
Bermuda loves sand. It will help promote growth in thin areas in your bermuda lawn. Aerate then top dress your lawn with a healthy spread of sand. If there is no rain in the forecast water frequently. Sprigging your lawn with similar bermuda sprigs (sprigs pulled from other healthy parts of your lawn)is also a good idea to thicken your bermuda lawn. You will need to water frequently if you sprig your lawn. Bermuda loves warm moist evenings. Sand and water will help the springs take root instead of drying out and dying when you spread them throughout your lawn.
Im in Fort Worth, Tx and have planted my lawn just about 2 months ago and i am noticing that burmuda grass is stemming or long sprouts above ground. What could be causing this?
My Grass stands 2.5 inches above my side walks and drive way. When I mow it scalps these areas. Is this a sign of too much thatch? If so can I use that liquid rake?
Thanks
Steve
Aeration in Georgia is so critical. Due to the compacted clay soil, turf simply has a difficult time thriving without core aerating each year. For higher quality lawns, twice a year is vital. The golf courses aerate monthly in season, why not a home lawn?