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Fall Aerating and Over-Seeding

What is Aeration and How to Prepare for Aeration and Over-seeding?

“Aeration” or “core aeration” is the process of exposing your soil to the air by removing plugs of soil from the turf. This basic maintenance practice improves soil structure. Soil structure significantly impactsthe availability of the critical elements of plant life in a soil. These critical elements (oxygen, water, and nutrients) are more readily available in a regularly aerated area. Over time, aeration increases the quality and health of grass and trees during by promoting thicker and deeper root growth.

Most lawns in our area should be aerated once a year. A lawn experiencing heavy traffic or extensive soil structure damage may need to be aerated twice a year for the first few years in order to maintain a quality soil structure.

How to Prepare for Aeration & Over-seeding:

Look for the utility markings in the yard & mark your private lines

• We have public utilities marked through MO-One Call (1-800-DIG-RITE) to avoid shallow telecommunications lines
• Place flags or spray turf-safe paint on any irrigation heads not along a curb or concrete edge, AND on invisible dog fences, OR on any other private underground lines

Make sure ground is soft for best results

• Try to water the day or two prior to aerating service if ground is very dry and hard
• Please don’t water the day of aerating services
• “Soaked” and “soft” are not the same

After Aeration and Over-seeding:

• Water in grass seed immediately following aerationAfter Aeration and Over-seeding:
• Continue normal watering schedules until the beginning of November (if weather permits)
• Leave the soil plugs on the lawn because they break down and filter back into holes left by the aerationmachine
• Mow yard once or twice during the first 8-10 days after seeding
• Avoid mowing and other traffic on lawn for the following 10-14 days after the initial 8-10 day period post-seeding
• Regular mowing can resume around the 3rd-4th week following aeration (it is recommended to skipmowing for a week or two during the 2nd to 3rd week following seeding
• Don’t expect instant results: Aeration and Over-seeding starts to make the most visual impact after two or three years of Fall aeration and over-seeding.
• If you were aerated and over-seeded towards the end of the Fall “seeding window,” expect to see your results in late Spring, early Summer.
• If you were aerated and over-seeded during the Spring “seeding window,” expect to see your results early Summer or when it cools down in the Fall. Often times Spring aeration and over-seeding is performed more for soil structure improvements than for seed establishment.
• It is rare to see great results the same season the service is provided.
• The results of regular annual aeration are cumulative, so consistently performing this maintenance to a lawn area is critical to achieving sustainable results.

If for some reason after aerating and seeding and you did not get the results you wanted, there could be an underlying issue such as: high traffic, pest problem, your soil pH won’t release nutrients properly, your soil is still overly compacted, thatch buildup, etc. Call and schedule a free consultation/estimate to address any of your lawn or landscaping concerns.