What is the best month to aerate my lawn?
The best time to aerate your lawn is in late summer or early fall, as this will allow your grass to recover completely before going dormant in the winter. While Fall is recommended, you can also aerate and overseed your lawn in the spring between March and May.
When should you not aerate your lawn?
Spring is not the ideal time to aerate the lawn, but circumstances may require it. If the soil is so compacted that existing grass can't grow, it may be necessary to aerate in the spring. 1 Generally, though, spring aerating is discouraged because the aeration holes provide a perfect spot for weed seeds to germinate.
Can you aerate your lawn too early?
You wouldn't want to aerate and overseed too early, before the last frost hits for example, and kill the seeds. You also wouldn't want to do it during the peak of a hot summer, when the harsh sun and temperature suppress new growth. For cool-season grasses, common in northern lawns, aerate early fall or spring.
Can I aerate in early spring?
We recommend you aerate your lawn once per year. If you have a warm-season grass, you should aerate now (early spring) as temperatures start to rise. If you have cool-season grass, fall is going to be the best time to aerate and seed your lawn. Aeration is necessary for the growth and health of your lawn.
How do I know if my lawn needs aeration?
Signs your lawn needs aerationYour soil is hard to the touch.Your lawn feels spongy and dries out easily.During rainstorms, water forms puddles instead of being absorbed by the soil.Your grass is thinning, withering, or losing its green color.Your grass is developing diseases such as brown patch.
Should I pick up plugs after aerating?
The consensus is that no, you should not pick up plugs or cores after aerating. In a few days, these little pieces of your lawn should break down and become unnoticeable. This process is aided by watering your lawn deeply after aerating or waiting to aerate before it rains.
Should I mow before or after aeration?
It's generally recommended to mow before aeration, especially if you're overseeding. That said, it won't hurt the lawn if you mow after aerating if you aren't laying down grass seed. Mowing first allows you to expose the soil before aerating.
Should you put grass seed down after aerating?
Within 48 hours after you aerate you should over seed, fertilize, and water your lawn. The seed, fertilizer, and water will have the best chance to get down into the holes made by the aerator if applied soon after aeration.
Do you mow before aerating?
Before you aerate, mow your lawn low (Timberline lawn experts recommend setting your mower to about 1.5-2 inches above the ground to maximize the effectiveness of aerating, being sure to not scalp the crown of the grass.) You will want to water one to three days before aerating.
Can I aerate lawn in March?
You should avoid any times that may be leading to very cold or dry weather. Do not aerate if the ground appears to be frozen. Spiking (2″ to 6″) using your lawn aerator sandals, rolling lawn aerator, garden fork, powered or towed aerators can be done at any time from March to November.
Is aerating or dethatching better?
Aeration helps loosen the soil and helps decompose the excessive thatch layer at a faster rate. Both services accomplish a similar goal, but lawn aeration does so without the possibility of damaging your lawn in the way that dethatching would.
Should I dethatch or aerate my lawn?
If your lawn's failure to thrive is due to compaction, you will want to aerate it. If thick thatch is the problem, you will instead need to dethatch your lawn.
Should you aerate your lawn when it's wet?
If the soil is wet, you won't want to aerate it, as it can get quite muddy. However, you also want to make sure the soil isn't too dry either. It is typically suggested that you water a dry lawn between two days before and the evening before you aerate to ensure that the soil isn't rock hard.
Is dethatching better than aerating?
Aeration helps loosen the soil and helps decompose the excessive thatch layer at a faster rate. Both services accomplish a similar goal, but lawn aeration does so without the possibility of damaging your lawn in the way that dethatching would.
How often should the lawn be aerated?
As for frequency, Friell said aeration should be performed at least once per year on most lawns. Lawns with compacted soil or soil with high clay content may benefit from aeration twice annually.
Should I aerate before or after fertilizing?
In most cases, aerating is best before laying fertilizer as it allows for more oxygen and deeper growth of grass roots. If you have compact soil or clay soil, it is especially crucial to aerate before so that the fertilizer reaches deeper roots.
When is the best time to aerate a lawn?
In Iowa, September and April are the best times to aerate Kentucky bluegrass and other cool-season lawns. While the overall results are beneficial, core aeration causes some initial damage. Aerating in September or April allows the grass to quickly recover during the favorable growing conditions in spring and early fall.
How often should I aerate a lawn?
Lawns growing in heavy, clay soils and those subject to heavy foot traffic should be aerated twice a year. Once a year should be sufficient for lawns that are established on well-drained soils and experience little traffic.
Is aeration necessary in Iowa?
AMES, Iowa – Aeration is an important part of lawn care, but take care to aerate properly and at the correct time of the year. Here are some tips from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach horticulturists on the proper way to aerate a yard.
When is the best time to plant new grass seed?
Also apply a fertilizer, either chemical or organic, to ensure a lawn that greens up faster in the spring. • Fall is the best time to plant new lawn seed, once temperatures drop a bit. Patch bare spots. Fill low spots with excellent quality topsoil and seed.
What does dull blades do to lawns?
A dull blade rips rather than cuts grass leaf blades, making them heal unevenly and giving lawns a beige cast, and promotes disease problems. (Click here for a printer-friendly version of this Lawn Care Schedule for Iowa.)
How long does it take for sod to collect water?
Water deeply and well—not just a quick, shallow watering. Put out a tin can or shallow dish to see how much water is being applied. It can easily take several hours to collect 1 inch. • If you laid sod in the last few months, be extra careful to keep it well-watered during hot, dry weather. August.
Why is aeration important in lawns?
If the lawn contains bare patches where neither grass nor weeds grow, the soil beneath these areas is likely to be compacted. Aeration promotes even growth by providing grass better access to water, nutrients, and air. Poor drainage.
Why aerate before overseeding?
If you plan to overseed (the process of planting new grass seeds into an established lawn), aerate before overseeding to increase contact between seeds and soil. This way, a higher percentage of the new grass seeds will germinate. Fertilization.
How to judge thatch in lawn?
To judge your lawn’s extent of thatch, remove a one-square-foot, four-inch-thick slice from the top with a shovel. If the thatch layer is more than one-half inch thick, aerate the lawn. Aeration reduces thatch buildup by boosting the activity of soil microbes that decompose thatch. High traffic. Aeration can reduce soil compaction in lawns ...
How to tell if your lawn is compaction?
Dry and/or hard soil. A classic sign of soil compaction is when a lawn feels bone dry and dense to the touch and rock hard underfoot. You may also have difficulty inserting trowels or shovels into the soil. Aeration increases soil moisture and softness by providing grass better access to water. Uneven growth.
Why does my lawn have a pool?
Poor drainage. Rainwater or irrigation often pools in low areas of the lawn because it cannot permeate compacted soil. Aeration improves drainage by improving soil’s absorption of water. Excessive thatch. To judge your lawn’s extent of thatch, remove a one-square-foot, four-inch-thick slice from the top with a shovel.
How does fertilizer work?
Fertilizer works best when it reaches deep into the soil where the grass roots can access it, so plan to aerate before applying fertilizer to create the holes needed for fertilizer to sink deeply. Watering.
Can you aerate grass in extreme heat?
Aeration should not be done during periods of extreme heat or drought, as creating holes in the soil at these times can expose it to more heat, which can further dry out your grass.
When is the Best Time to Aerate?
Aeration is best performed just before or during periods of high growth. However, not immediately preceding or during periods of stress to the lawn. For example, heat or drought. The type of grasses that make up your lawn will determine the best time of year to aerate.
What to do after aerating lawn?
3 Things To Do After Aerating Your Lawn: 1 Watering after aeration is always a good idea. As Friell said, aeration should never be performed when turf is wet, or the dirt contains enough moisture to be muddy. 2 Applying an application of fertilizer and weed killer is beneficial shortly following aeration. However, be sure to skip the weed killer if you’re going to overseed following aeration. 3 Overseeding following aeration makes sense because seeds can take advantage of the disturbed surface to create better seed-to-soil contact, which encourages successful germination.
Why overseed after aeration?
Overseed after aeration so seeds can take advantage of the disturbed surface. This creates better seed-to-soil contact, which encourages successful germination.
Can you apply weed killer after aeration?
But don’t apply a weed killer if you plan to overseed following aeration. It will prevent germination of the seed you put down.”
Does aeration affect turf?
According to Josh Friell, Ph. D, of The Toro Company’s Center for Advanced Turf Technology, aeration introduces temporary stress to the turf. Recovery time is closely linked to growing conditions and annual growth cycles. As a result, it’s important to keep those considerations in mind when determining an annual aerification plan.
Can you aerate grass after aeration?
As Friell said, aeration should never be performed when turf is wet, or the dirt contains enough moisture to be muddy. Applying an application of fertilizer and weed killer is beneficial shortly following aeration. However, be sure to skip the weed killer if you’re going to overseed following aeration.
When is the best time to oversee a lawn in Iowa?
In Iowa, the best time to overseed a lawn is late summer/early fall (late August to mid-September). Soil temperatures at this time of year are still warm, which promotes optimum seed germination, and the cooler air temperatures are better for grass growth.
What is the best grass seed for a lawn?
Choose the Best Grass Seed Mixture. A high-quality grass seed is essential for a strong healthy lawn. Jonathan Green grass seed mixtures feature a mix of the best varietals of cool season grasses and result in leaves that are dark green, lush, and uniform in texture. The seed produces grass that is drought-resistant and grows well in both sun ...
