S&M EarthScapes

Overseeding & Aeration

Do you long to have a healthy, lush lawn but instead have poor soil, improper drainage or other turf issues? Annual turf grass aeration and overseeding can ensure the well-being of your turf. The process will reduce soil compaction and assist in thickening thin or bare areas of your lawn.

We recommend that your turf is watered 24 hours before our crews arrive to begin the aeration and overseeding process. However, we’re also happy to do that for you! Watering prior to the aeration process will maximize the depth at which the tines on the aeration machine can penetrate the soil. If you have contracted our six-step fertilization process, we also suggest doing your spring aeration before the final pre-emergent application is made. The cored holes will allow for root growth, but can also create a space for weed seeds to grow.

Aeration

After ensuring the turf has been watered, our crews will mow your grass to a specific height to limit competition from established turf grass. Small areas of damage will also be raked up. Then, we’ll aerate the lawn.

We encourage aeration in the fall or spring . Aeration is a process of coring the soil, or puncturing holes measuring about two inches deep by a quarter of an inch wide equally across your turf. To do this, our crews use an aerator machine. Aeration helps to break up the soil and thatch (dead grasses that haven’t broken down) that have built up. By aerating and eliminating compaction, we allow more oxygen and water to permeate your soil. After aeration, our crews will leave the cores to break down naturally in your lawn. Other benefits of aeration include better:

• Air circulation within the soil

• Water intake

• Fertilizer intake and use

• Heat and drought tolerance

• Resiliency and cushioning

• Thatch breakdown

 

Aeration will improve oxygenation, which will help new grass seed to grow faster and thicker.

 

Overseeding

Lawns that have not been overseeded can grow thin and unhealthy, making it much easier for weeds to take over. If you have an existing lawn with a few bare or thin patches, overseeding may be just the thing to take your lawn from mediocre to marvelous! Overseeding is the process of spreading additional grass seed over an existing lawn to create a fuller appearance. It can be done in the spring or fall months. Depending on the weather, the optimal time for spring seeding is in mid-April through May, and mid-August through September for fall seeding.

After aeration has been completed, a starter fertilizer will be applied. Then we’ll apply the grass seed – either Kentucky blue grass or a Fescue blend (a sun and shade mix). Seed will be applied using a spreader or slit seeder. We will make two passes in opposite directions to ensure proper seed coverage.

The newly seeded area should be lightly watered as needed (typically once or twice a day) in order to keep the soil surface moist. Light and frequent watering is needed until the seedlings are rooted. Once they have taken root, the frequency of irrigation can be reduced. There should be no foot traffic or mowing on the turf for two weeks following seeding. Mowing can resume when grass is at a height of 2 inches, until new seedlings have been cut at least two times, probably at least 4 to 6 weeks after seeding. After this, the mowing height can be raised in intervals over the next three weeks until a normal mowing height of 3 to 3.5 inches is reached. Broadleaf herbicides shouldn’t be applied for four to six weeks after the area has been seeded.