All life needs air, water and the basics of life to thrive, and your lawn is no exception. By overseeding and aerating at the right time of year, you can be well on your way to a lush, emerald lawn you can be proud of. Following these tips helps you on your way to maintaining a healthy lawn year round.
Table of Content
- Why Should I Overseed My Lawn?
- What Are the Benefits of Aerating My Yard?
- Best Time of Year to Aerate and Overseed a Lawn
- Tips for Aerating and Overseeding My Lawn
Why Should I Overseed My Lawn?
Overseeding involves adding new seed to your lawn when you already have grass planted. This method of gardening involves addressing thin, patchy and scraggly grass without having to start over. If you are not happy with your lawn, overseeding can help.
In situations where you have been in a war with weeds or have chosen low-quality grass that has not created the beautiful lawn you hoped for, professional overseeding with quality grass can help you fight back and get that yard you’ve always wanted.
What Are the Benefits of Aerating My Yard?
Aerating introduces air into the soil and allows water and nutrients to enter the soil as well. This process softens the soil and prepares it for overseeding or planting. Aerating can also encourage healthy root growth since the soil is not so compacted that roots struggle to grow. Nature’s Helper offers aeration services as part of overseeding for optimal effect.
Best Time of Year to Aerate and Overseed a Lawn
Autumn is an ideal time to aerate and overseed a lawn. At this point, new grass will not be competing as strongly with weeds as it would be in the summer, and you have time for the grass to take root and grow well before winter. The earth will also generally not be too muddy or too hard and dry from the sun, allowing for easier aeration and giving your grass a chance to grow.
Preparation for the prime days of spring and summer is key, so it’s vital to protect your lawn during the down months. If you cannot take care of these tasks in the fall, spring can also be a time to aerate and overseed.
Tips for Aerating and Overseeding My Lawn
Hiring a professional such as Nature’s Helper to take care of your aeration and overseeding is the best way to ensure you get high-quality results. Using improper techniques could damage your lawn, and you won’t get any of the benefits aerating and overseeding typically provide. However, if you are interested in getting a second chance at a beautiful lawn and working on your lawn yourself, be sure to consider these tips before you start:
- Rent a quality aerator. You might not have this device in your tool shed right now, but rentals are available. Rent the best model possible and consider splitting the cost with neighbors, friends or family to make it more affordable.
- Prepare before aerating. If you have sprinkler heads, be sure to mark them to prevent damaging them. Also, remove any obstacles on your lawn before you start the process.
- Choose your seeds carefully. After your lawn is aerated, it is time to plant. Read labels carefully and look for seed with a blue tag. Make sure the seeds are a high-quality product and not leftovers. You don’t want to scrimp on costs here. Leftover or low-quality seeds can contain weeds or thick-bladed grass that will not give you the lawn you want.
- Choose the right method of overseeding. A broadcast or drop spreader will help you distribute seeds most accurately and may be important for larger areas. For small lawns, you may be able to seed by hand, but if you do this, put down more seed than you think you need. Also, mix the seed with sand to ensure it is spread evenly.
- Aerate and overseed closely together. In general, don’t wait more than 48 hours after you aerate to start to overseed. Make sure you fertilize and water your lawn, too, so you give the seeds everything they need to thrive. Look for a fertilizer that is appropriate for your climate and grass type. Also, look for a product that does not have weed control so your grass can grow properly.
- Check the weather first. Make sure you plant well in advance of freezes and while there is plenty of warm weather left. You want the grass to take root and get healthy before the winter comes. If you can grow your grass so you have to mow it a few times before the winter, you can help prevent winterkill by ensuring you don’t have tender new grass when the cold weather hits.
Need Some Help?
At Nature’s Helper, we offer aeration and overseeding services to preserve the life and health of your lawn. When you hire us, we make sure to give you the best possible results and ensure the job is done right. Feel free to contact us online or call us at (402) 334-2625 for help. Our professionals have more than 20 years of service and are familiar with a range of options in the Omaha area.
Updated: 4/25/2019
