What time of year should you aerate your 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. If you have high-traffic areas or heavy clay soil, you will want to aerate every year.

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.

What month Should I aerate my lawn?

The best time to aerate is during the growing season when your grass can heal and fill in any open areas once soil plugs are removed. In most parts of California, the best time to aerate tends to be in the late summer to mid-fall months, ideally September or October.

How many times a year should you aerate your lawn?

How Frequently Should You Aerate Your Lawn? As for frequency, Friell said aeration should be performed at least once per year on most lawns. Lawns with compacted soil or soil with high clay content may benefit from aeration twice annually.

How late in the year can I aerate my lawn?

Knowing when it is too late to aerate and overseed depends upon your grass type. For cool-season grasses, late fall and early winter are too late to do anything. For warm-season grasses, once the growing season has passed from late summer to early fall, it is not smart to take any actions.

What's The Best Month [Time of Year] To Aerate A Lawn

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.

Is it OK to aerate in October?

September and October are the best months to aerate your soil. Aerating in the fall will give your lawn's roots the boost they need in order to recuperate from a hot summer and prepare for a thriving spring!

Do I need to do anything after aerating lawn?

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 do I know if my lawn needs aeration?

Is it OK to cut grass after aeration?

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.

Should I fertilize my lawn after aerating?

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®.

Should I seed before or after aeration?

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.

Can you aerate your lawn 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).

Is it better to aerate in spring or fall?

We recommend you aerate your lawn once per year. 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.

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.

How do I prepare my lawn before aerating?

How long does it take to see results from aeration?

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.

Does aerating lawn make it thicker?

Thicken Grass and Other Greenery

Not only does aerating your lawn allow more nutrients, water, and sunlight to pass through, it also stimulates the development of your grass roots. This, in turn, helps your grass grow thicker, stronger, and stay green longer during a dry spell.

Do I need to 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”).

Do you add topsoil before or after aeration?

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.

Which is better plug or spike aerator?

Plug aerators are usually more effective at relieving compaction in lawns with a heavy clay soil since the solid tines used on spike aerators compact the clay soil further when they push into the ground.

How long do aeration holes last?

While aeration itself can take just a couple of hours, depending on the size of your commercial property, plugs typically break down in about two weeks.

How late in the fall can you aerate?

Fall aeration should take place mid to late October after temperatures have cooled down. Aerating in the fall preps your grass for the spring. Your lawn will grow greener and thicker the following spring after fall aeration.

How do I overseed my lawn after aerating?

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.

Do you 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.