Lawn Care Company Best Practices For Aeration And Seeding
Landworks is a full-service lawn care company serving Shawnee, Lenexa, Olathe, Overland Park, Leawood, and Prairie Village in Johnson County, KS. Among the many services we offer are core aeration and seeding. Core aeration enables better air, water, and nutrient exchange in soil, which produces a deeper root system and thicker turf. Following aeration with seeding keeps your turf dense and lush.
What Is Aeration?
Aeration involves making holes in the lawn by pushing a rod into it and extracting a plug of soil. This process breaks up thatch, a spongy layer of light-brown matter between the soil and grass that resembles peat moss, and relieves soil compaction. A build-up of lawn thatch or heavily compacted soil makes it difficult for your lawn to breathe. Aeration service from a trusted lawn care company like Landworks improves water, nutrient, and oxygen movement to the root system.
A core aeration machine extracts “cores” of soil, leaving pockets for air and water to penetrate, and room for roots to grow. The “cores” of soil are left on the surface and left to decompose. The extracted plugs of soil and thatch provide additional nutrients for the lawn.
When To Aerate
A lawn that looks brown and dehydrated is a telltale sign that it is in need of aeration. Signs of thatch build-up include a lawn that feels spongy or seems to dry out quickly. Water pooling up on your lawn after heavy rain may indicate that the soil is too compacted for the water to effectively penetrate. Aeration should typically be done once per year but may be repeated if your lawn begins to show signs of compaction again.
The best time to aerate is during the growing season when the grass can heal and fill in open areas. Ideally, lawns with cool-season grasses like fescue and bluegrass (which are the most common in Johnson County) should be aerated in the early spring or fall. Warm-season grasses like zoysia and Bermuda are not typical for our region but should be aerated in late spring if you have them.
Core Aeration And Overseeding From Landworks Lawn Care Company
Landworks lawn care company recommends following aeration with overseeding, which is the practice of applying grass seed over the top of your existing lawn. Overseeding after aeration allows more of the new seed to reach the soil and receive the air and water it needs to grow. This results in denser, thicker turf. Both processes should be used to get the lushest lawn possible.
After aeration and seeding, it is important to keep the ground moist while the seed germinates. You should water the soil to a depth of about 1/4”, or water each day for at least 20 minutes in all seeded areas.
When you need a trusted lawn care company for core aeration and overseeding or any other lawn service in Johnson County, the certified professionals at Landworks are here to help. Call (913) 422-9300 or click here to contact us for more information.