The importance of having porous soil cannot be over emphasized. Nearly all plants desire well-draining soils that can easily exchange air (both for the roots and biology) and allow the soil nutrient solution to freely move throughout the root zone.
While the supposed benefits of mechanical aeration are widely promoted, the fact is, mechanical aeration is used to counter-balance the negative consequences of nearly all lawn programs which rely on chemical applications.
MECHANICAL
- Affects 5-10% of total surface area.
- Extends 2-3" (if soil conditions right).
- Creates holes to provide porosity.
- Brings biology to surface to decompose thatch.
- Damages irrigation heads and underground wires.
- Soil brought to surface contains weed seeds.
- Looks and makes a mess.
NATURAL
- Treats 100% of surface area.
- Works deeper into soil whenever it rains.
- Holes close back up within 2-4 weeks.
- Underground biology can’t survive above ground.
- Liquid applied on surface does no damage.
- Weed seeds remain dormant in the soil.
- No muss, no fuss . . . just outstanding results!
The only time mechanical, core-aeration might be advised would be to introduce a soil amendment into the soil profile by dragging something like sand or peat into the holes.