Aerate? will it hep my pasture?

[ksluy]

I was listening to farm radio today and they where talking about aerating your pasture and field. They said frost would help aerate your ground but you still need to aerate. Does anyone aerate? Did it make a difference? And if you do what do you use? Thanks

 

[sweettractors]

When we aerate, we see significant improvement in forage growth the entire growing season. Chain harrows or any tool that will disturb the root mat and get some moderate soil penetration do a good job on our farm in Kentucky.

 

[gilbertmsg]

Probably the best thing you can do for your pasture to promote new growth. I aerate in the spring and fall in our pastures.

Eddie

 

[wngsprd]

I core-aerated our pasture in early spring/late winter and replanted a pasture mix and had great success.

 

[ksluy]

Do rent a aerator? I looked at buying one and it sells for $6,500 That was new i have not been able to find a used one.

 

[MitchellB]

Wouldn't a subsoiler do a good job of aerating?

 

[MacLawn]

Hmmm, I know absolutely nothing about pastures except they're beautiful, but wouldn't a sub soiler be a bit too much disturbance? I have a subsoiler, and when I use it on my garden, man, that thing does some digging. I've seen in the Mississippi Delta country where they use a thingamajig that actually cuts way down deep, I think about 10' every 10' or so, and proved that it makes a big difference in the cotton crop. Bust up way down allowing moisture to penetrate better. I reckon for a pasture do y'all use those plug pulling thingmabobs that actually pulls a bit o' soil up leaving a hole?

 

[sweettractors]

We use these to aerate also. Less expensive and the 3 point is easy to move around. We have 6 ft and this larger one listed below. Ken Sweet
Used 15 ft Aerator and Renovator with Cat 2 3 Point Hitch We Can SHIP Cheap | eBay

 

[s219]

A straight core aerator can alleviate soil compaction without making too much of a mess. If the soil is not compacted or clay-like, there isn't as much benefit.

 

[Dale_Alan]

I have a 4 gang disc with the notched blades. If I adjusted each of the gangs to straight and let it cut 2-3" deep, would that be sufficient to aerate the pasture. Adjusted straight it would not be throwing any soil around, just cutting the top layer.
Good idea or not?
Dale