Does Aerify! Work?

DuaneS – posted 08 August 2004 19:23

This is a product from www.natureslawn.com.

Chances are it’s a hoax but it would save me a lot of time in aerating my Texas clay lawn.I tried all weekend with a hand corer.It constantly clogged, never penetrated more than an inch or two, and I ended up with a sore back.

Has anyone out there used this product and know if it works?

Thanks!

ted – posted 08 August 2004 19:37

i guess you could try it. it seems to be formulated for commercial spray equipment however. have you tried gypsum? pretty popular product for loosening up clay soils- ( if that’s what you have)- try a soil texture analysis test- you might be suprised.

DuaneS – posted 08 August 2004 19:59

Ted, thanks for answering.I have another post about my St. Augustine grass, which is effectively dead.This is part of the reasoning for trying to improve the soil–I have to start over (or so it seems), and would like to do it right.

This link is interesting, discusses gypsum and at the very end, seems to indicate the product mentioned above might work.

http://www.bachmans.com/tipsheets/Soils/WorkingWithClaySoil.cfm

If I order it and use it, I will report the results.Also will try the jar/water shake and settle test described on the page and see how much clay I really have.

Thanks again for the answer!!!

skislock – posted 28 August 2004 17:30

I have used Aerify since last fall. I put it down twice the first month and was able to see a big difference in soil compaction and drainage. The soil felt like real soil for once. This year I am putting it on every 3 months and still am satisfied. I believe it is helping me get more out of my fertilizer because the grass is growing more and the soil is not drying out as fast as normal. I plan to use a lower nitrogen fertilizer from now on.

skislock – posted 28 August 2004 17:34

I also tried gypsum and didn’t see any changes. I later learned that it will work to improve soil if the soil is sodic, which I think is only a problem in a few areas of the country, or if there is excess magnesium found after a soil test.