I think that Peaks Island should temporarily be re-named Ice Island. As look out on my snow-covered lawn this evening, the light reflects a uniform sheen of ice. As beautiful as it is, I know that the soil beneath my once-green lawn is being compacted, slowly but surely. This means that after the snow melts (in how many months?!?) the grass roots will have a hard time getting all the air, water, and nutrients that they need to thrive. Thankfully, I have a plan… lawn aeration!
I’m not talking about mechanical lawn aerators that leave behind unsightly soil plugs. I’m talking about a liquid lawn aerator that pushes soil colloids apart on a microscopic level. Think about it. How big are the molecules that make up air and water? As a chemist I can tell you that they are not very large, especially compared to those giant plugs of dirt. Yes, some water can reach the surface area in the holes that are left behind, but what about the rest of your lawn? Using a liquid aerator affects your entire lawn so that the fertilizer and other soil amendments that you apply can get to their intended destination: grass roots.
I suppose that developing my spring lawn care plan now constitutes a bit of wishful thinking, but at least I have something to look forward to… it’s cold out here! We finally got our first big snow, and I personally hope there are at least a few more to come. I winterized the lawn in fall, so I’m confident that the grass got the supplemental nutrients it needs to not only survive winter, but to thrive in spring.
How’s the weather where you are?
Wow! Great Advice! Thank you!
By: georgialawn on January 19, 2012
at 9:20 am