How do I prepare my yard for aeration and seeding?

Do I need to cut grass before aerating?

Before you aerate, mow your lawn low (Timberline lawn experts recommend setting your mower to about 1.5-2 inches above the ground to maximize the effectiveness of aerating, being sure to not scalp the crown of the grass.) You will want to water one to three days before aerating.

Should you put grass seed down before or after aerating?

Within 48 hours after you aerate you should over seed, fertilize, and water your lawn. The seed, fertilizer, and water will have the best chance to get down into the holes made by the aerator if applied soon after aeration.

What month should you aerate and seed your lawn?

The best time to aerate your lawn is in late summer or early fall, as this will allow your grass to recover completely before going dormant in the winter. While Fall is recommended, you can also aerate and overseed your lawn in the spring between March and May.

Can you aerate and seed at the same time?

Our Solution: Perform Them at The Same Time

Aeration provides the perfect area for seeds to fall into and grow. The new grass seed will take the available water, oxygen, and nutrients and start to thrive, starving out potential weeds in the process.

How to Aerate and Overseed Your Lawn - 5 Easy Steps

Should I water right after aerating and seeding?

It's critical that you properly water your lawn after aeration and overseeding. Not doing so could have negative results such as a lawn that won't grow, wasted money, or needing to re-seed all over again.

Should I Overseed right after aerating?

You may want to rake the soil to remove debris and to loosen and expose soil. 2) If you're going to aerate, you'll want to do this beforehand. Typically, overseeding 48 hours following aerating is a best practice, as this will give the seed the best chance of getting into the soil.

Should I pick up plugs after aerating?

As we've established, don't remove aeration plugs. It takes approximately one to two weeks for the plugs to break down on their own, but there are some things you can do to help the plugs break down faster to tidy up the lawn. You can hope for rainfall, but you can also water the lawn to help the plugs break down.

Can you walk on lawn after aeration and seeding?

Don't walk on your recently treated lawn.

The seed will begin to germinate in the first few weeks, limiting foot traffic will allow the seed to germinate and sprout new growth. This initial period of time is crucial to the success of your new lawn.

What is the best fertilizer after aeration?

After Aeration Overseed and Fertilize

For best results, use high-quality seed and fertilize with Milorganite®. Mixing grass seed with Milorganite is an effective way to spread seed accurately.

Should I cut grass short before aerating and overseeding?

Prior to aeration and seeding, a lawn should be mowed at a height of 1.5 to 2 inches. Any clippings left on the lawn after this close cut, should be bagged, blown or raked off the lawn. This is necessary to maximize seed to soil contact as the seed is spread.

Should I fertilize before or after aeration?

While not crucial, it is recommended to aerate your lawn before fertilizing or overseeding. It is important to make sure the soil is loose enough for seeding so the roots can grow deeper for better water and nutrient access.

Will grass seed grow in aeration holes?

Aeration enhances seed germination.

Seeds germinate easily in aerator holes as the holes provide them a place to hide. Overseeding introduces new grass seed to fill in bare or thin areas as well as thickens existing turf.

Should I pull weeds before aerating?

Quite likely, you'll benefit most from holding off from performing weed control in order to allow us to complete lawn aeration and overseeding. If you treat weeds late in the fall and skip aeration and overseeding, you're only going to have more bare patches and more weeds creeping in.

How tall should grass be for aeration and overseeding?

We recommend you set the mowing height to 1-1/2″ (one-and-one-half inches). This will get the lawn low enough without scalping it. Mowing low makes both aeration and seeding more effective. Clean up any leaves, trash or other debris which might interfere with the aeration.

Do you need to topsoil after aerating?

After aerating, it's time for top dressing: spread either pulverized top soil or a good quality humus compost across the lawn. You don't need much—about a quarter inch or so is adequate. Then, go ahead and reseed. Be sure to invest some money in the seed and get good quality, weed-free seed.

What to do before aeration?

Ideally, you should water the lawn at least a day or two before aeration; you should add at least one inch of water to the soil to make it easier for the aerator to penetrate the soil and pull out the cores. Do not try to aerate a muddy or especially wet area though, as that will just clog the machine.

How long does it take grass to recover from aeration?

It can take up to a couple of weeks for the greens to recover, but these procedures are critical for the long-term health of the greens. This is typically done one to three times a year, depending on the course, the type of greens, and in what part of the country they are located.

Can I mow right after aerating?

They'll need to acclimate and set roots before the first mow, so during the first two to four weeks post aerating and overseeding, don't mow.

Which is better liquid or plug aeration?

Core Aeration will have a more immediate impact on your soil and the look of your grass. But, the effects are not very long lasting. The Liquid Aeration will have a less immediate impact on your soil, but the effects are longer lasting and cumulative, so your result gets better over time.

What month is best to overseed?

Hands down, early fall is the best time to overseed your lawn. The absolute sweet spot for most northern regions of the U.S. is August 15 to September 15. That's when daytime temperatures are still warm enough to encourage growth and nights get cooler, giving new seedlings a break from the heat.

Should I put sand down after aerating?

When using sand after aeration, the sand fills the holes and helps change the soil structure, improving its drainage and increasing the growth of healthy grass. Masonry sand is a great option because it's free of debris, weeds and pebbles. Some lower the cost of their top dressing by mixing sand, topsoil and compost.

What is the average cost of aeration and overseeding?

How Much Does Aeration and Overseeding Cost? If your lawn is damaged, combining aeration with overseeding and fertilizing can help restore your grassy areas. If you opt to have it done by a lawn care company, the overall cost would be about $160 to $425 (CAD 215 to CAD 575) for 10,000 square feet of lawn.

What is the next step after aeration?

What to Do After Aeration. After you finish aerating your lawn, let soil plugs or extra soil dry where they fall. They'll break down in rain or crumble the next time you mow, adding beneficial soil and organic matter to your lawn surface.

How long after aeration can you see results?

Believe it or not, you can actually see core aeration and overseeding results on your commercial property in as little as 7 to 10 days. This is when the soil plugs will break down and the seeds will begin germinating and you'll start to see healthier, thicker grass develop.