Should I aerate my lawn before overseeding?

Aeration will help ensure your soil is ready to absorb all of the nutrients and seeds that come its way with topdressing and overseeding. That's why you should aerate before overseeding.

Do you aerate and overseed at the same time?

After the aeration is done, 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 after this is done to ensure the seeds can grow.

How do I prepare my lawn for overseeding?

Mow Low. Before overseeding your thin lawn, cut your grass shorter than normal and bag the clippings. After mowing, rake the lawn to help loosen the top layer of soil and remove any dead grass and debris. This will give the grass seed easy access to the soil so it can root more easily after germinating.

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 is the best month to aerate and overseed?

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.

Two KEY STEPS To A GREAT LAWN // Aeration and Dethatching Before Overseeding

Can you just Overseed without aerating?

The answer is that you can overseed effectively without aerating. As we've just mentioned, it's all about seed-to-soil contact. You can get good results without aerating by simply clearing and raking the soil before applying seed.

Is a spike or plug aerator better for overseeding?

Even spike aerators, which use a solid tine or fork to poke holes, can cause additional compaction in the areas around the holes. For best results, use a plug aerator, which removes a core, or plug, of grass and soil from your lawn.

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.

When should you not aerate your lawn?

It is best to avoid aerating lawns when they are going into dormancy. So, late summer or early fall are too late for warm-season grasses; it is best to aerate in late spring or early summer. For aerating cool-season grasses, stick to early spring and early fall.

Should you water right after aerating and overseeding?

During the first two weeks following your aeration and seeding service, the main goal is to keep the ground/seed moist while the seed begins to germinate. We recommend that you water each day for at least 20 minutes in all areas of the lawn (water the soil to a depth of about 1/4”).

Can I just throw grass seed down on existing lawn?

Can you just sprinkle grass seed on top of your existing lawn? While it's possible to simply sow the new grass seed over your existing lawn, taking the time to prepare your lawn beforehand will increase the likelihood of seed germination and improve your end result.

Can you use too much grass seed when overseeding?

Ignoring recommended seeding rates

Don't overdo or cut corners. Too much grass seed causes undue competition for resources such as light, water and nutrients, and grass seedlings struggle as a result. Too little seed leaves lawns thin or bare.

What else should I put down before over overseeding?

To remedy bare spots, cover spots with topsoil before you overseed. This will improve the quality of the soil and help the grass grow. Some bald spots are in areas with water drainage problems. Add a thin layer of sand first and smooth it out with a rake.

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.

What happens if you aerate after overseeding?

Overseeding is a great partner to aeration because you need seed-to-soil contact to germinate lawn seeds, and you've just created the perfect seedbed through aeration. This maximizes your chances of overseeding success so you can thicken up that lawn to prevent weeds and give it that lush, green appearance you envy.

How long does it take for grass seed to grow after aeration?

While it's going to vary depending upon the weather, it usually takes about two to four weeks for your new grass to start to germinate. Following germination, you can begin to water less frequently but using more water (the opposite of what you were doing pre-germination).

Can you hurt your lawn by aerating?

Here's the problem with that approach: Aerating in the spring could actually hurt the lawn more than help it. While aerating does relieve soil compaction – enabling roots to more easily obtain fertilizer, water, and air – it could also cause it to dry out quicker.

How many inches should you aerate your lawn?

Aeration holes are typically 1-6 inches deep and 2-6 inches apart. Other types of aerators push solid spikes or tines into the soil without removing a plug (spiking). These are not as effective because they can contribute to compaction.

Does aerating flatten lawn?

Homeowners who have a bumpy or uneven lawn might be hoping that an aeration service will have some sort of impact on leveling things out. Unfortunately, aeration is not going to fix a bumpy lawn. Whether it's just a few low spots or it's a completely uneven lawn, these issues all come down to re-grading.

Can you water too much after overseeding?

For best results, water all newly-seeded areas twice daily, beginning the day of seeding. The goal is to keep the seed moist, but to avoid standing water. Too much water will kill the seed. If you are not able to water twice a day, thoroughly water once daily for a longer duration.

Should I water lawn 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.

Is it OK to fertilize after aeration and overseeding?

After Aeration Overseed and Fertilize

Immediately after aeration, your lawn is ripe for overseeding and fertilizing. The holes provide excellent soil exposure for seeds and deliver fertilizer directly to the roots of your grass. For best results, use high-quality seed and fertilize with Milorganite®.

Can you plug aerate too much?

As a general rule, you shouldn't need to aerate more than once a year at any time ("too much of a good thing" applies here, since you don't want to damage your soil).

Can you aerate and overseed twice?

Fortunately, you can give your lawn a lush appearance with double aeration and overseeding. At The Lawnsmith, we recommend that homeowners schedule this procedure in the spring and fall to ensure a healthy lawn throughout the year.

Should I mix grass seed with topsoil when overseeding?

Should you mix grass seed with topsoil? If you're looking for a quick answer, yes, you should mix grass seed with topsoil for small areas of your garden and other applications.