How can I quickly and inexpensively aerate my lawn? Also can something be added to soften the soil underneath
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Answers:
well areation is the key, don't do the spiked shoe thing it really doesn't work, you can rent a power aerator but it depends on the size of the yard for the expence. there is a wayt to do it by hand in a small yard the tool makes the same plug and can be found in any garden supply store or big box store and you just work arounfg the yard with it like a shovel. as for softening the soil you can apply gypsum in either powder or liquid, this will help to break up a rock hard soil, but still aerate.
I use a pitch fork, but they do sell these contraptions that you can attach to your shoes and have spikes that do the areation while you walk. My neighbor has them and he found them in the garden section of the Home Depot. I really don't know of anything you can do from the top to soften the soil underneath, but areation does help to do that over time.
You can play around with the spiked shoes and other things that poke small holes that seal back up in less than a day. The only proper way is to rent a core aerator. They pull plugs of dirt out and leave a larger hole so water and nutrients can go into the soil.
get serious- rent a power aerator and just do it yourself. golf spikes just won't do it for you.
When you're done, apply garden gypsum and add peat moss or compost over the entire yard.. this will help loosen the soil up.
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