Every yard should have aeration and overseeding done regularly. However, there are a few ways to determine if your lawn needs this service soon. If your yard gets heavy use, such as from children and pets running around, it’s likely compacted and could benefit from aeration. If your home was recently built, construction traffic may have caused compaction. If your lawn was established by sod, the soil may be layered and could be fixed through aeration.
Even if none of these issues apply, your lawn may benefit from aeration and overseeding. Check to see if your lawn is compacted or if there is a thicker layer of thatch throughout your yard. A common sign of compacting is pooling when it rains, as the water cannot easily drain into the soil. To check the thatch, pull out a section of your lawn about 4 inches deep and measure the thatch. If it’s more than an inch thick, consider aeration for your lawn.
When should aeration and overseeding be done?
Aeration and overseeding can’t just be done whenever. It’s important to do it at the right time of year for the best results. For cool season grass, the fall is the best time to aerate. Aeration should also be done at least once every three years. However, many lawns do need to be done more frequently, especially if the lawn gets heavy use. If you notice any issues from compaction or excessive thatch, plan to have your lawn aerated more often. Most homeowners will have it done every year to prevent issues and ensure their grass continues to grow well.
Why should aeration and overseeding be done in the fall?
Basically, fall is when cool season grass grows, so aeration prepares the roots for more growth before winter and gives the grass the best chance of surviving the colder months. It helps to create greener, thicker grass in the spring months.
Aeration helps the roots get everything they need to grow, which helps create healthy grass before the weather gets cold. This helps ensure the grass will make it through the winter so the lawn looks fantastic in the spring. Overseeding allows you to fill in damaged or bare areas and help make the grass thicker before the weather gets cold and the grass stops growing. Fall provides the ideal growing conditions for the grass, so when seeds are added during the fall, they have the best chance of growing to create a healthy, green spring lawn. Combining aeration and overseeding with fertilizing the yard can help ensure your lawn looks amazing when spring arrives and the weather starts to get warm again.
How is aeration and overseeding done?
Aeration needs to be done when the soil is moist. Then an aeration machine is used to go over the entire yard, pulling small plugs from the lawn. The plugs are left on the lawn to break down so the nutrients go back into the grass. Once they are dry, they can be broken down faster by going over them with a lawnmower. After the aeration is complete, the overseeding can be done. This is done by spreading grass seeds uniformly over the entire yard. Extra grass seeds can be spread in areas that are thin or damaged. The grass should be watered regularly afterwards to ensure the seeds can grow.
