Aerating and overseeding your lawn now is an important way to give your grass a jumpstart on next year’s growing season.
Aeration
All yards become compacted, and a yard that’s used a lot gets compacted a lot more! That’s one of the reasons why aeration is one of the most important services you can do for your lawn. The University of Minnesota Extension Service says that between late August and early October is the best time to aerate – so now is the time! Fall is an ideal time to aerate because the grass is still actively growing, but there’s less danger of spreading seeds from weeds during the process.
There are several benefits of aeration. It improves the lawn’s health and relieves soil compaction, resulting in better water drainage and nutrient absorption by the roots. Strong roots are essential for healthy grass. Also, plugs of soil from the ground are created during aeration. This allows air, water, and nutrients to penetrate the soil and reach the lawn’s root system.
Compacted soils and soils with poor drainage accumulate thatch faster than well-drained soils. Aerification stimulates the microbial activity involved in decomposing the thatch layer. Aeration plugs sit on the surface of the lawn and crumble apart over time. This top-dresses the grass with soil containing desired microorganisms that will work at decomposing thatch.
Overseeding
Fall is on the best time to overseed. Establishing grass now means it has less competition with weeds, and the cooler nights and sunny days allow for the successful germination of our cool-season grasses. In addition, immature grass does better over the winter than it does dealing with the stresses of summer. So getting it started in the fall optimizes its ability to establish in the spring.
Overseeding after aeration is great timing. The holes created by the aeration process become great places to catch and protect the seed. And, the lawn is less compacted after aeration, giving the grass a better chance of rooting into the soil.
If you have a question about aeration and overseeding, or would like a quote for having your yard aerated, contact the experts at Organic Lawns by LUNSETH.
