Aeration & Seeding

Over time, your soil becomes compacted. Aeration is the process of exposing the soil to much need oxygen by pulling plugs of soil about 2"-3" deep. The aeration process has many benefits and should be done annually in the fall season when the temperatures are more stable and between 65-85 degrees to reap the best results.

Benefits of Aerating, Seeding and Fertilizing:

• Soil receives oxygen
• New seed can fall deeper in soil, creating deeper roots
• Fertilizer promotes new growth
• After a winter of dormant grass slowly establishing roots, spring will yield a lush green lawn that can better withstand the heat and drought of mid summer.
• Thatch is reduced.

Tips for a successful aeration, seeding and fertilization:

• Control the weeds in the lawn at least three weeks prior to the aeration. Weeds compete with your lawn for resources and always win. Weed will also block the new seed from falling into the aerated soil. Use a broadleaf herbicide to control weeds such as dandelion, clover, and creeping charlie. Use a pre-emergence grass herbicide to control weedy grasses like, crabgrass and foxtail.
• Mow your lawn very short with in a few days before the aeration.
• Thoroughly water your lawn before the service ensuring that the aerators will get good plugs. A solid deep soaking is recommended.  Not having moist soil prior to service will impact the aeration result.  If you can easily get a screw driver into the ground without a lot of weight or force, the soil is moist enough for good aeration. We have had sufficient rain this month so this should not be an issue for most lawns.
• Mark all irrigation heads and valve boxes and/or underground pet fences (or any shallow wires or cables) with flags.

After Aeration:

• Keep seed bed moist at all times.  This requires watering daily if rain is absent.  If possible, it is best to water two times per day, once in the morning and once in the late afternoon.  Fifteen (15) minutes per station should be adequate, as the objective is strictly surface moisture.  This process should continue until you have desired germination.  Fescue can take twenty one (21) days to germinate. Once the grass is in, switch to a deep soaking regular watering after we have gone 2-3 days without a heavy rain.
• Skip mowing for at least one week (longer if possible). Mow the new grass when it is of mowing height being careful of turns with the mower.