The benefits of Aeration and Overseeding
Many homeowners in Collegeville, Pottstown, Royersford, Phoenixville and surrounding areas have hard compacted soil and are frustrated with the condition of their lawns. Clay soils get compacted easily and that leads to all sorts of lawn care problems. But help is on the way…AERATION AND OVERSEEDING could be the perfect solution to better green grass.
Signs Your Lawn Needs Aeration
There are a few signs that you can look for.
– Poor water drainage
-Worn paths from heavy traffic
– Lawns that brown easily in the summer
-Lawns with l/2” or more of thatch*
Try grabbing a screwdriver and push it deep in the ground. In compacted soil, you won’t be able to push it down very far. Or try to dig up some turf with a shovel. If it’s a struggle to get farther than a depth of half the blade, your soil needs to be aerated.
*Another complication of compacted soil is that a ‘barrier’ forms just below the grass, which makes it difficult for water and nutrients to get deep in your lawn’s root system. This layer is known as lawn thatch. If water and fertilizer cannot penetrate this thatch, then your lawn’s roots will grow above the thatch in order to get the water and nutrients it needs. Developing these shallow root systems makes your lawn more susceptible to drought, disease, and insects.
What Is Aeration?
Small plugs of soil from the lawn after aeration. Photo courtesy of Holganix
Core Aeration is the process of removing small plugs of soil from the lawn. The benefits of aeration include:
-An increase in air, water, nutrients to the roots
-Relief of soil compaction
-Improvement of drainage
-Creating of better environment for overseeding
-An increase in the effectiveness of fertilizers
-Stronger turfgrass roots
-Enhanced heat and drought stress tolerance
Doing this helps loosen hard compacted soils and improves air exchange in the soil. It also helps improve water absorption and stimulate a deeper root system. This promotes new growth resulting in a thicker, greener, healthier lawn. The holes pocketed in the soil from core aeration allow fertilizer and soil amendments to enter the soil quickly and easily. Another advantage is that thatch is reduced.
What is Overseeding?
Early fall is the optimum time to aerate and overseed your lawn.
Overseeding thickens your lawn. It fills the bare areas of your lawn and thickens the existing turf. It’s a natural companion to aeration because the process of aeration creates an optimal seedbed for new seed to germinate and take root, and for water, air, and sun to reach the roots. Overseeding basically introduces new grass to your lawn that helps create thicker, stronger turf that is better able to crowd out weeds.
When Is the Best Time to Aerate and Overseed?
Reduced thatch, better soil structure, stronger roots…what more could you ask for!
Although early spring is perfectly acceptable, early fall is the optimum time of year. The days are cooler, there’s higher precipitation and the weeds and insects are generally less active. These conditions provide new seed better growing conditions and time to take hold and germinate before frost hits.
Read more about How to Best Care for Your Lawn after Aeration and Overseeding.
Whitehouse Landscaping offers these Montgomery and Chester county lawn care services because we have seen what wonderful things this simple and affordable two-step process does to even the unhealthiest of lawns. Stay on top of your lawn care with proper organic-based fertilization practices and Aerate and Overseed in the fall and you’ll be well on the way to create a thick, green and beautiful lawn.
If you’re interested in learning more about Aeration and Overseeding or letting the landscaping professionals handle it for you, give the landscape design experts at Whitehouse Landscaping a call at 484-300-4290 or contact us on our website. We’ll be in touch!. We handle everything from lawn care, tree services to design and patios. No matter what your needs may be, if you want your Montgomery or Chester County yard to look great next year, we can help!