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About this time of year (especially during a hot and dry summer) your lawn may be looking a little thin, developing brown spots, or just doesn’t look as good as it should. Over time, lawn soil becomes compacted or hard, and your turf has trouble filling in those thin and browning spots. Summer heat, drought, insects and disease can also take their toll. If any of this sounds and looks familiar, aeration and overseeding should be on your spring or fall to-do list.
One of the best means of rejuvenating turf is to combine the power of professional aeration with overseeding. All lawns, regardless of their condition, can benefit from some level of renovation every year or two.
During aeration, we’ll use a machine known as a core aerator to pull plugs of soil and thatch up from your lawn. The compacted soil is loosened thus creating more space for air, water and fertilizer to reach the roots, resulting in a much healthier root system for a thicker, healthier lawn. Some people are under the misconception that you have to thatch your lawn every year – not the case. There are some instances where a lawn is bad enough to require thatching. It much more important to aerate — aerating helps to break up thatch, which can prevent water, fertilizer and insect controls from reaching the soil.
Following up aeration with overseeding is a great way to thicken up a thin lawn or develop a hardier, more drought-resistant grass. Good seed-to-soil contact is essential for seeding success, and the new grass seed will have an easier time germinating and growing in the holes left behind by aeration. Keep in mind that when overseeding your lawn (whether you are a do-it-yourselfer or a Ganshert client); the soil should be kept moist with light, frequent sprinklings (twice a day) until the new grass is well established (about 2 inches high).
