Why You Should Aerate and Overseed Your Lawn at The Same Time | Pure Green LLC (2024)

Biscuits and gravy. Pumpkin spice and coffee. S’mores and campfires. Broadway and bachelorette parties. There are just some things in life that are synonymous with each other.

At Pure Green, we would add another pairing to that list: aeration and overseeding. Though it’s likely the most unfamiliar combination of the bunch, it may be the most important, especially for fall lawn care. After all, overseeding and aerating your lawn at the same time can help your grass stay healthy in Middle Tennessee all year long.

WhyAerate?

With all the rain, heat, and backyard activities of summer winding down, it’s likely your soil has compacted. You may even notice some pooling water or brown patches in your lawn. If left unchecked, these conditions can damage your turf and create an environment for pesky weeds to thrive. That’s why fall is a perfect time to add aeration to your lawn care treatment regimen.

Aerating your lawn breaks up your soil and enables water, nutrients, and oxygen—all vital to your lawn’s health—to reach your grassroots. Whether you use liquid or core methods,aeration reduces soil compaction, improves water drainage, and stimulates deeper root systems.

The Impact of Overseeding

Overseeding as part of your fall lawn care plan also reliably strengthens your lawn. Not only can it eliminate unsightly bare spots in your yard, but overseeding with different grass varieties can make your yard more drought-resistant. Plus, the cooler fall temperatures provide better conditions for growth, giving your seeds ample time to germinate before any frosts arrive. As a result, you’ll develop a thicker turf to keep out disease or weeds and improve your chances of great green grass during Nashville’s unpredictable winters.

Aeration and Overseeding: Better Together

Aerating and overseeding your lawn are both excellent fall lawn care options. But, to get the most impact out of each, you really need to do them together. Why? Well, when you aerate your lawn, the loosened soil provides the perfect situation for new grass seeds to germinate in the deeper parts of your soil—as well as weed seeds.

However, by overseeding right after aeration, you’re giving new seeds easy access to the nutrients they need to thrive, while also preventing weeds from growing in their place instead. With thicker, healthier turf from new seedling growth, you’ll have a fresh, gorgeous lawn just in time for spring!

Entrust Your Fall Lawn Care to Pure Green

With fall approaching, opportunity knocks to aerate and overseed your lawn simultaneously. But between back-to-school adjustments and fall sports schedules, it’s easy to let it slip through the cracks. That’s why partnering with Middle Tennessee’s lawn care services experts at Pure Green can ensure your lawn doesn’t miss out on the great green grass it deserves. To learn how our team can easily aerate and overseed your yard on the same day, request a free quote now.

Why You Should Aerate and Overseed Your Lawn at The Same Time | Pure Green LLC (2024)

FAQs

Why You Should Aerate and Overseed Your Lawn at The Same Time | Pure Green LLC? ›

However, by overseeding right after aeration, you're giving new seeds easy access to the nutrients they need to thrive, while also preventing weeds from growing in their place instead. With thicker, healthier turf from new seedling growth, you'll have a fresh, gorgeous lawn just in time for spring!

Should I seed before or after aerating? ›

It's most effective to overseed directly after you aerate, because your soil is revitalized after the aeration, and all the little holes in it will provide the perfect place for the new grass seeds to sprout. Like we said before, we recommend aerating and overseeding in the Fall or Spring for the best results.

When's the best time to overseed your lawn? ›

Hands down, early fall is the best time to overseed your lawn. The absolute sweet spot for most northern regions of the U.S. is August 15 to September 15. That's when daytime temperatures are still warm enough to encourage growth and nights get cooler, giving new seedlings a break from the heat.

How long does it take grass to grow after aeration and overseeding? ›

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.

How do you prepare a lawn for aeration and overseeding? ›

Prior to aeration and seeding, a lawn should be mowed at a height of 1.5 to 2 inches. Any clippings left on the lawn after this close cut, should be bagged, blown or raked off the lawn. This is necessary to maximize seed to soil contact as the seed is spread. This is a key factor in successful germination.

Can you aerate and overseed at the same time? ›

Aeration and Overseeding: Better Together

But, to get the most impact out of each, you really need to do them together. Why? Well, when you aerate your lawn, the loosened soil provides the perfect situation for new grass seeds to germinate in the deeper parts of your soil—as well as weed seeds.

Should I water immediately after aeration and overseeding? ›

Water: Your Very First To-Do List Item. Once your lawn care professional is done aerating and overseeding, you want to saturate your lawn as soon as possible. You want to keep it evenly moist.

What should I put on my lawn after aerating? ›

What to Do After Aerating Your Lawn
  1. Step 1: Leave the Soil Plugs Alone.
  2. Step 2: Overseed Your Lawn.
  3. Step 3: Topdress Your Lawn.
  4. Step 4: Water Your Lawn.
  5. Step 5: Apply Fertilizer.
  6. Step 6: Lime Your Lawn.
  7. Step 7: Water Your Lawn, Again.
  8. Step 8: Limit Foot Traffic.
Mar 29, 2024

Can you aerate too much? ›

You can over-aerate. Over-aerating your lawn can stress out your lawn and leave you with uneven soil. Even though it can be damaging to over aerate your lawn, it is actually quite difficult to aerate too much. It is recommended to have your lawn aerated once or twice a year.

Should you mow before or after aerating? ›

Plus, the soil plugs left over on the surface will eventually break down and absorb back into the soil, giving your grass's roots more nutrients. Because of these benefits, you need to mow the lawn before aerating it, not after.

Will grass seed grow if you don't aerate? ›

Can I just throw seed on my lawn? Yes, you can throw seed on a lawn and hope it grows, but taking a few steps beforehand, such as dethatching, aerating, or raking, will give the seed a better chance of germinating.

Should I roll my lawn after aerating and overseeding? ›

Again, it seems to make sense that rolling your lawn after seeding would help the seed-soil contact (which is important). However, it would be better to take a leaf-rake and lightly rake over the seed to incorporate it into the soil.

What is the point of overseeding with aeration? ›

What Do Aeration and Overseeding Mean? An aeration and overseeding service is a way to help the roots grow deeper and ensure there is plenty of grass growing to cover thinner areas. Aeration involves penetrating the soil and creating small holes that allow water, air, and nutrients to reach the roots of the grass.

Is it OK to seed without aerating? ›

Can I overseed my lawn without aerating? Yes, you can overseed your lawn without aerating it, but results may vary. If you have the time, dethatching or aerating your lawn before overseeding will yield the best results. Overseeding your lawn without aerating will work, but less seed will take root.

Is it OK to cut grass after aeration and seeding? ›

Don't Mow Too Soon

Seeds need time to acclimate and set roots before the first mow. During the first two to four weeks post aerating and overseeding, don't mow your lawn.

What is the best month to aerate my 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.

Is it better to seed or fertilize first? ›

Seed before fertilizing

'By seeding first, the grass seeds can become established and develop a strong root system as a foundation. Once the seeds are showing good, strong growth, you can then add fertilizers for your particular grass and soil type. '

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