The most beneficial thing you can do for your lawn in the Fall to assure a healthy yard with less effort in the Spring is aeration and seeding. Aerating and dethatching are best done when a lawn
can take some abuse and recover easily
. Fall is perfect due to the cool air temperatures and warm soil temperatures.
When Should I aerate my lawn in the fall?
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.
Is it OK to aerate lawn in the fall?
Performing a lawn aeration in Fall is incredibly beneficial for your lawn. … Since compacted soil doesn't allow much space for water and nutrients to penetrate the roots, aerating your lawn is something you should
do at least annually to avoid it
. Aeration also helps remove excessive thatch from your lawn.
What to do after you aerate your lawn in the fall?
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.
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.
Is aerating your lawn worth it?
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 do I overseed my lawn in the fall?
For cool-season turf, start the overseeding process by
thoroughly aerating the lawn
. Apply the new seed with a fertilizer spreader, following the product's recommended coverage rate. It's ideal when the seeds fall into the aeration holes because they won't dry out as quickly and will germinate faster.
Is it better to aerate in fall or spring?
When to Aerate Your Lawn
If the soil is so compacted that existing grass can't grow, it may be necessary to aerate in the spring. … But the very best time to aerate is
in the fall
when the temperatures have cooled off, when the weed pressure is minimal, and when grass is actively growing.
Can you seed your lawn 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. … If the fertilizer contains weed control, your grass seed won't germinate properly.
Should I pick up plugs after aerating?
Those aeration plugs are vital to the health of your lawn. Resist the urge to “clean” the lawn after it's been aerated, and whatever you do,
don't remove the plugs
.
Do you water after aerating lawn?
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”).
What should I spread on my lawn after aerating?
- Leave the soil plugs on the lawn to decompose and filter back into the holes left by the aeration machine. …
- Apply fertilizer immediately after aerating your lawn to put nutrients into your grass roots. …
- Reseed your lawn, especially in areas of the lawn where the grass is thin.
Should I fertilize after aeration?
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.
Which is better spike or plug 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. … Soils that crumble easily are usually high in loam and sand which benefit more from the use of a spike aerator.
Can you 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).
Should I aerate or dethatch first?
Excess thatch blocks out air, light and water from reaching root zones. Dethatching and aeration services go hand in hand.
Dethatch first, then aerate
.
