Aerating the lawn this autumn

After a long season of wear, your lawn will need aeration if it is to stay in good shape.

Compaction around the roots, which are being restricted in the compacted soil because they have been trampled by lots of feet, means they cannot breath properly and you will need to create some air spaces.

It is vital to break through the compressed soil structure, loosening the root zone around the grass and in the process allow free passage for the fine white grass roots to expand. This all leads to a much healthier and balanced sward and combined with scarifying tips and a good feeding regime

The trusty garden fork

The simplest method for the ameteur gardener is the fork. An old one is usually best because the worn metal penetrates through the soil better.

Push the tines in vertically as far as they will allow. Use your foot if it is difficult and waggle backwards and forwards as the fork penetrates. This waggling creates the same effect as vertidraining does and will help break up the root zone without creating huge disturbance at the surface.

Mechanised spiker

If you have a large area to do or you require consistency on a playing surface such as a golf green, bowling green, tennis court or croquet lawn then using motorised spiker will be an advantage.

I prefer the 460 SDR and out of all the makes and models that I tried over the year,s this proved to be the more superior machine and even outshone any of the Sisis range of machines.

What makes the 460 so user friendly is the ability to turn very tightly without the user having to bust a gut. After a long slow day at the helm of a large machine, the operator does not want to have to physically man handle it into position.

Timing your spiking

Coupled with scarifying and over seeding and the onset of the first of autumn rain to soften the ground, the autumn is the best time of year to aerate the soil.

Aeration is not a quick fix for a poor lawn but carried out in conjunction with other necessary maintenance tasks it helps create a good stable and balanced environment for your grass roots to remain strong and healthy.

Tips on scarifying your lawn and buying the right machine for the job.