What month should you aerate lawn?

You want to aerate the lawn when your grass is in its peak growing period so it can recover quickly—think early spring or fall for cool-season grasses, and late spring through early summer for warm-season grasses.

What is the best month to aerate my 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.

What month do you aerate?

When should you aerate cool-season grasses and warm-season grasses? The trick is to aerate right before overseeding. The best time to have lawn care services aerate your lawn in Midwest locations is usually around August or September. In warmer states, aerate in late spring or early summer.

When should you not aerate your lawn?

Spring is not the ideal time to aerate the lawn, but circumstances may require it. If the soil is so compacted that existing grass can't grow, it may be necessary to aerate in the spring. 1 Generally, though, spring aerating is discouraged because the aeration holes provide a perfect spot for weed seeds to germinate.

Is it better to aerate your lawn in spring or fall?

When Should I Aerate My 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.

Aerating Your Lawn - Why, When and How

Can I aerate my lawn in February?

However, during the winter months when the ground will often be wet, these could cause damage. At this time of year, you'll still need to aerate any areas of the lawn that look like they may be suffering from compactation with a garden fork.

How late can you aerate your lawn?

For warm-season grasses it is too late to aerate once the growing season has passed in late summer into early fall. For cool-season grasses, late fall into early winter is too late to aerate.

How do I know if my lawn needs aeration?

Should you aerate in early spring?

If you have a warm-season grass, you should aerate now (early spring) as temperatures start to rise. If you have cool-season grass, fall is going to be the best time to aerate and seed your lawn. Aeration is necessary for the growth and health of your lawn.

Is aerating your lawn worth it?

Almost all lawns will benefit from aeration, and a great lawn demands it. That said, most lawns do not need it. Lawns suffering from heavy foot traffic, excessive thatch (>1 inch thick) or grown on heavy soils will benefit most.

When Should I aerate my lawn in the spring?

The best time to aerate your lawn is in the early spring and early fall. To best prevent weeds with core aeration, you will need to aerate before spring weeds start to germinate, which is usually when the daily average soil temperature is 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

What is the best time to aerate and overseed?

The undisputed best time of year to aerate and seed a lawn is in the fall. Warm soils, cool nights and dying annual weeds make fall conditions the ideal time for aeration combined with overseeding as well as general lawn seeding. Unlike fall, spring soils are cold and packed full of dormant weed seeds ready to grow.

Should I Overseed 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.

Should I aerate my lawn twice a year?

Most lawns should be aerated once or twice a year, depending on the soil, grass type, and amount of use. A lawn experiencing heavy traffic should be aerated twice a year. A well-established lawn with little traffic, on the other hand, can be aerated once a year.

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.

Can I aerate lawn in March?

You should avoid any times that may be leading to very cold or dry weather. Do not aerate if the ground appears to be frozen. Spiking (2″ to 6″) using your lawn aerator sandals, rolling lawn aerator, garden fork, powered or towed aerators can be done at any time from March to November.

Can you aerate too early?

You aerate and overseed during the wrong time of the year.

You wouldn't want to aerate and overseed too early, before the last frost hits for example, and kill the seeds. You also wouldn't want to do it during the peak of a hot summer, when the harsh sun and temperature suppress new growth.

Is it OK to aerate in April?

Since the exchange between soil, air and atmospheric air increases after aeration, water will evaporate more quickly. I do agree that aerating in April would be a poor decision, and lead to a muddy lawn. That is why our program only aerates between March 1 and March 21.

Do lawns need to be aerated 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.

Should I aerate or dethatch first?

It is best to dethatch first before aerating your lawn.

Both dethatching and aerating your lawn will improve air, nutrient, and water penetration into the root zone of your grass. Thatch is the main problem these two processes address.

What is the best way to aerate your lawn?

The most effective way to aerate a lawn of any real size involves a machine with hollow coring tines. This type of aerator punches holes and removes soil cores from the ground. Spike aerators and those with slicing knife blades, such as the Craftsman Tow Spike Aerator, are less effective.

Does aeration help with weeds?

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

Can you walk on lawn after aeration?

You can't walk on the lawn after aeration because the seeds and fertilizer need time to settle, and the soil could get too compact. Walking or mowing on a freshly-aerated lawn can prevent the seeds from sprouting and the soil from getting enough oxygen and nutrients.

What should I put on my lawn in March?

Can I overseed in March?

If your lawn is not performing up to your expectations, you can re-establish a healthier, better-looking lawn by overseeding it. The best time to overseed an existing lawn is from late summer to early fall, but it can still be a success when done in spring.