PUBLICATION W161B
Turfgrass Maintenance: Cultivation
If you have questions about this resource, contact your county Extension office.
Summary
Turf cultivation improves lawn and sports turf health by reducing thatch and relieving soil compaction. This guide compares common methods including core aerification, deep tine and deep drill aerification, water injection, vertical mowing, deep vertical mowing, spiking, and slicing. It explains what each practice does, how much soil it disturbs, and when it is best used, from routine lawn aeration to aggressive treatments for layered or compacted soils. Includes tables that compare depth, spacing, and soil exposure for different cultivation options.
Publications in Series: Turfgrass Maintenance
Turfgrass Maintenance: Developing a Turf Fertilization Plan
Turfgrass Maintenance: Essential Elements
Turfgrass Maintenance: Fertilizers
Turfgrass Maintenance: Irrigation
Turfgrass Maintenance: Mowers
Turfgrass Maintenance: Mowing
Turfgrass Maintenance: Rolling
Turfgrass Maintenance: Thatch
Turfgrass Maintenance: Topdressing
Harvested for You
Based on the subjects and categories of this publication, you may be interested in the following resources.
Turfgrass Selection for Tennessee Landscapes
Large Patch vs. Brown Patch in Turfgrass: How to Tell the Difference
Instructions for Collecting and Packing Turfgrass Sample for Diagnostic Lab
