People have visited Baltimore since the city's birth. Many come for business and the military, but more come to see what all the fuss is about. They return home raving about the food, the Inner Harbor, and humming the Star Spangled Banner.
What they don't notice is that the ground beneath their feet has been aerated. When they saw a game at Raven's Stadium or Camden Yards, do you think they noticed the state of the grass? Of course not. They were buying jerseys and waving black and purple and black and orange pennants. Here are a few sights visitors love to see when they come to Baltimore.
Fort McHenry
It's dawn, September 13 and 14, 1814. The flashes of the guns as the British bombard the Americans in Baltimore harbor light up the night. The ground rumbles and men cry out, inspiring Francis Scott Key to write "The Star Spangled Banner." Walk over the grounds of Fort McHenry. Feel the heat in the air, just like on those mornings. Feel the determination of the Yanks to roll back the British.
Federal Hill Park
You're standing on a rise overlooking downtown Baltimore and the Inner Harbor. During times of war, the rise hosted troops waiting to blow the British in the Revolutionary War or the Confederates in the Civil War out of the water. Or off the grass, whichever came first. Today, Federal Hill Park stands mute testimony to its importance in defense of the city. It's beautiful grounds remind visitors that Baltimore isn't all business. As you're having a picnic on the grass, notice that the city takes good care of the soil, aerating it when needed for its health and beauty.
Mt. Clare Museum House
Have you ever wondered how life looked in the 1700s and 1800s? How did people work, how did they cook, do the laundry, bathe, and what did they do for entertainment? Check out the Mt. Clare Museum House to see how life was in 1760 when the house was built. Mt. Clare was the home of one of Maryland's first statesmen, Charles Carroll. Learn what one among the first plantations in Baltimore looked like and view some of the artworks preserved in the museum.
Edgar Allan Poe Home
"And so all the night-tide I lie down by the side of my darling, my darling, my life, and my bride, in her sepulcher there by the sea, in her tomb by the sounding sea," an excerpt from Annabelle Lee by Edgar Allan Poe.
It's difficult to reconcile the writer of such deeply touching poetry with the author of some of the eeriest horror stories ever written such as The Cask of Amontillado and The Tell-Tale Heart. One of the first to write short stories, Poe was a writer and editor. Poe studied at West Point, but couldn't handle the studies. He tried the Army, but all he wanted to do was write. He died in Baltimore of unknown causes. See his home and walk in the gardens in the back of the house.
What Do These Sights Have To Do With Aeration?
Would you agree that grass is a living thing? That it needs water, oxygen, and nutrients to grow and flourish like any other living thing? Living organisms absorb water, oxygen, and nutrients into their systems. People even absorb these through various means.
However, even people among other living organisms sometimes need a shot in the arm, because their system has become impacted. It is clogged with junk, so that water, oxygen, and nutrients can't get through. Aerating a lawn is like giving the grass a shot in the arm. The grass is impacted by thatch, moss, and other growths that choke out the nutrients from the soil. So a machine with spikes makes tiny holes in the ground. The object is to loosen the soil so that air pockets will allow water, oxygen, and nutrients to soak into the soil and grass roots, making the grass grow lush and vibrant. The soil that is dug up with the spikes is the fertile soil deep down in the ground. It is re-distributed over the soil in the yard, giving it access to those same nutrients.
Benefits of Soil Aeration
Homeowners notice if their grass is growing slowly or if thatch and other growths are taking over their yards. Perhaps the topsoil was removed when the foundation of their homes was put in. Whatever, the reason, there are definite benefits of aerating the soil:
- Soil isn't impacted.
- Less thatch.
- Fertilizer is absorbed better, the root system is deeper and thicker, and the soil is loose and more absorbent.
- Water is better able to be absorbed by the soil, so there will be less flooding and puddles of sitting water.
- Grass roots are stronger.
You might need to aerate your lawn if:
- Your yard is like Grand Central Station, with kids, dogs, bikes, skateboards, footballs, basketballs, Frisbees, and any other grass-impacting things people can devise.
- Your house was a new build. The topsoil would have been displaced to lay the foundation of your house.
- Feels spongy, but doesn't absorb like one. Dig into the grass about four inches. If thatch composes one-half inch of it, then you need to aerate your lawn.
You would do anything in the world to make sure your kids, pets, spouse, and anything or anyone you love had what everything they needed to flourish. Lawn Love will do the same for your lawn, so give us a call today.
