Should I aerate my lawn every year?

No, it's not necessary to aerate your lawn every year, especially if your grass is healthy and thriving. Aeration is good if you've got compacted, poor or clay-heavy soil that's been impacted by heavy equipment or lots of foot traffic. It's also good to aerate if you are renovating a yard or installing a new one.

How often do I need to aerate my lawn?

If you have high-traffic areas or heavy clay soil, you will want to aerate every year. If you have sandy soil or your lawn is growing well, aerating the lawn can happen every 2-3 years.

Can you aerate your lawn too much?

Especially thick types of grass may also call for aerating more frequently. 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).

How do I know if my lawn needs to be aerated?

What month should you aerate lawn?

Aeration can take place at any time of the year, but the best time is usually in the spring/early summer or fall. The general recommendation is to core aerate when there is the most root growth.

Top Reasons To Aerate and Overseed Your Lawn Every Year

Is aerating or dethatching better?

While dethatching removes the layer of thatch above the soil surface, aeration removes actual plugs of soil from your yard. With looser, more nutrient-rich soil, root systems can spread out and grow deeper into the soil. Holes in your yard may not be glamorous, but they'll quickly fill in with dense, healthy grass.

Should I Overseed 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 happens if you don't aerate your lawn?

Grasses gradually thin and eventually die out completely, for lack of the oxygen, water and nutrients available just inches away. Even a single aeration session can open the avenue for these essentials to reach their mark and put your lawn back on an upward trend. Core aerators pull small plugs of soil to the surface.

Should I mow before or after aeration?

It's generally recommended to mow before aeration, especially if you're overseeding. That said, it won't hurt the lawn if you mow after aerating if you aren't laying down grass seed. Mowing first allows you to expose the soil before aerating.

Should I pick up plugs after aerating?

– The Short Answer. The consensus is that no, you should not pick up plugs or cores after aerating. In a few days, these little pieces of your lawn should break down and become unnoticeable. This process is aided by watering your lawn deeply after aerating or waiting to aerate before it rains.

How long do aeration holes last?

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.

When you aerate your lawn do you leave the plugs?

Leave the soil plugs on the lawn to decompose and filter back into the holes left by the aeration machine. Your lawn mower will often break them up and help work them back into the soil within two to three weeks. Apply fertilizer immediately after aerating your lawn to put nutrients into your grass roots.

Is it better to aerate in the spring or fall?

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.

Should I fertilize after aeration?

Should I fertilize or aerate first? In most cases, aerating is best before laying fertilizer as it allows for more oxygen and deeper growth of grass roots. If you have compact soil or clay soil, it is especially crucial to aerate before so that the fertilizer reaches deeper roots.

Does aeration help with weeds?

Maintaining your soil as a fertile and well-drained environment through aeration prevents weeds from germinating and sprouting.

Should I roll my lawn after aerating?

Waiting until your lawn is almost dry can cause you to compact your lawn from crushing the air pockets out of the lawn. This action can cause root damage to the grass. Rolling your lawn allows it to be much easier to mow the grass during the summer months.

Can you just sprinkle grass seed on 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.

What should I spread on my lawn after aerating?

These holes are the perfect shelter for grass seed. They allow seeds to take root and keep them protected from birds and other scavengers. After aerating your lawn, spread grass seed over your lawn using a broadcast spreader. Then, properly water and care for your newly overseeded lawn to promote great results.

Should I power rake or aerate my lawn?

I recommend using core aeration as an annual practice for lawns instead of power raking, which most everyone seems to do. Core aeration improves the lawn's health and vigor by breaking up soil compaction, which improves water drainage, nutrient absorption and air circulation to the roots.

Does raking the grass help it grow?

Raking dead grass helps it grow because it invites water, nutrients, and sunlight to the soil. It also reduces the thatch layer, making way for new grass seeds, roots, and more. However, don't rake it too often or you'll risk damaging fragile living grass blades.

Is it OK to dethatch and aerate at the same time?

Although a thin layer of thatch is beneficial, thatch accumulation should not exceed 1/2 inch. Excess thatch blocks out air, light and water from reaching root zones. Dethatching and aeration services go hand in hand. Dethatch first, then aerate.

Is it good to aerate your lawn before winter?

The best time to aerate is when the grass is actively growing and the lawn can recover quickly from all the open divots. For cool-season grass, this is in early spring or fall, before the first frost.

Is it OK to aerate in the summer?

Warm weather grasses should be aerated when the weather begins to warm. This means that aeration should occur between late spring and through the summer. Anytime during this season will help your lawn, as long as it is not during heat waves or drought.

Should I water my lawn after aerating?

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”).

Should I sand 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.