Aeration can take place at any time of the year, but the best time is usually in the spring/early summer or fall. The general recommendation is to core aerate when there is the most root growth.

Is there a bad time to aerate your lawn?

You want to aerate the lawn when your grass is in its peak growing period so it can recover quickly—think early spring or fall for cool-season grasses, and late spring through early summer for warm-season grasses. If you have high-traffic areas or heavy clay soil, you will want to aerate every year.

How often should a lawn be aerated?

How Frequently Should You Aerate Your Lawn? 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.

What is the best time to aerate your lawn?

When to Aerate Your Lawn Never aerate dormant lawns. For cool-season grasses common in northern lawns, early fall or early spring are the best times for aerating. For warm-season grasses common to southern lawns, the best time for aerating is late spring or very early summer.

Can you aerate your lawn in November?

For warm-season grasses it is too late to aerate once the growing season has passed in late summer into early fall. For cool-season grasses, late fall into early winter is too late to aerate.

Should I mow lawn 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.

Should I seed after aeration?

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. … If the fertilizer contains weed control, your grass seed won’t germinate properly.

Is it better to dethatch or aerate?

A dethatcher works well when you have a lot of dead grass on top of the soil, making the lawn feel spongy. An aerator is best used when the core has a thick layer of thatch, usually more than 0.5 inches.

How Much Should lawn aeration cost?

Professional Lawn Care Aeration and Treatment The cost to aerate your lawn by hiring a lawn care company is about $15 to $17 per thousand square feet. The average lawn size is about ten thousand square feet, making the average aeration cost around $150.

How soon after aeration can you mow?

After you lay down your seedlings, they’ll need time and the right environmental protection to grow. They’ll need to acclimate and set roots before the first mow, so during the first two to four weeks post aerating and overseeding, don’t mow.

Article first time published on

Should I aerate my lawn in summer?

Warm weather grasses should be aerated when the weather begins to warm. This means that aeration should occur between late spring and through the summer. … This means that aeration should occur between late summer and through the fall. Aerating these grasses during the summer heat can put stress the grass.

Can you aerate in the rain?

You can aerate a lawn when it is wet provided that it is not excessively wet. Lawn aeration involves making small holes on a lawn’s surface at regular intervals and moist soil helps the process. However, depending on the soil type, excessive moisture can hamper the process.

Is aeration better in spring or fall?

When to Aerate Your Lawn If the soil is so compacted that existing grass can’t grow, it may be necessary to aerate in the spring. … But the very best time to aerate is in the fall when the temperatures have cooled off, when the weed pressure is minimal, and when grass is actively growing.

Should I pick up plugs after aerating?

Those aeration plugs are vital to the health of your lawn. Resist the urge to “clean” the lawn after it’s been aerated, and whatever you do, don’t remove the plugs.

Can you aerate and overseed in the spring?

Overseeding is used for larger areas where the turf is thin, but not bare. The effectiveness of overseeding, whether done in the spring or fall, is enhanced when it is combined with lawn aeration. … It is helpful to core aerate before and after seeding into an existing lawn.

Can I just sprinkle grass seed on my lawn?

Can you just sprinkle grass seed on top of your existing lawn? While it’s possible to simply sow the new grass seed over your existing lawn, taking the time to prepare your lawn beforehand will increase the likelihood of seed germination and improve your end result.

Is it better to fertilize or seed first?

Most landscaping professionals agree that it is always best to fertilize the soil first if you are seeding a new lawn. It is also recommended to conduct a soil test so that you select the appropriate fertilizer.

What should I put on my lawn after aerating?

Apply fertilizer immediately after aerating your lawn to put nutrients into your grass roots. This allows the grass to better prepare for summer heat. Growing a thick, healthy lawn is useful in preventing weeds as well. Reseed your lawn, especially in areas of the lawn where the grass is thin.

How long does it take to aerate a lawn?

Rolling Aerator: Rolling aerators should take about 30 minutes to 1 hour to aerate a lawn. Tow-Behind Aerator: Tow-behind aerators should take about 20 to 30 minutes to aerate a lawn. Stand-On Aerator: Electric aerators should take about 15 to 30 minutes to aerate a lawn.

Should I water after aeration?

Watering Your Lawn After Aeration You should not water the day of because your lawn won’t have time to absorb the water. The goal after aeration is to keep your lawn moist without oversaturating the soil. … Be sure not to overwater, as this can cause the soil to shift, potentially negating your hard work!

How long do aeration holes last?

While aeration itself can take just a couple of hours, depending on the size of your commercial property, plugs typically break down in about two weeks.

Does TruGreen aerate?

Fall is the perfect time to aerate your lawn to ensure your beautiful lawn is in tip top shape for next spring. Schedule your aeration service today with TruGreen®. So, you’ve decided to aerate your lawn – go you! Fall is actually the perfect time to schedule this service.

Can you power rake and aerate at the same time?

It is recommended that you power rake your lawn before aerating it. Power raking first will help prepare the grass for aeration. You should power rake at least 5 to 7 days before aerating so that your lawn has time to recover between procedures.

Can you aerate with a pitchfork?

You can aerate a lawn with many different tools. The most inexpensive way is with a pitchfork or spading fork. This tool is most useful for aerating smaller areas. Simply punch holes as deep as possible in the turf layer and then rock the fork to enlarge the holes.

Does a Dethatcher aerate?

They both serve to help key nutrients like fertilizer, water or oxygen reach your lawn’s root zone so that your grass can continue to grow and thrive. However, aeration results in the breakdown of compacted soil whereas dethatching removes layers of thatch, or dead grass and other debris, from the top of the soil.

Can I aerate in the spring?

Spring Aeration and Seeding If you’re looking to aerate your landscape in the spring, the best time would be between March and May. While we recommend aerating your lawn in the fall, spring core aeration may be beneficial if your turf is so compacted it refuses to grow.

Should you fertilize after aerating?

After Aeration Overseed and Fertilize Immediately after aeration, your lawn is ripe for overseeding and fertilizing. The holes provide excellent soil exposure for seeds and deliver fertilizer directly to the roots of your grass. For best results, use high-quality seed and fertilize with Milorganite®.

Can I aerate and overseed in June?

These are generally cool-season grasses. Southwest U.S. (California and Arizona): Early spring is the best time for overseeding in these areas. Southern states (Georgia, Florida and Texas): April, May and June are good times to overseed in this huge area. The best time may vary each year depending on soil temperatures.

Can you liquid aerate in the summer?

You do not want to aerate in the Summer, however. It is best to wait until the cooler weather, Spring or Fall, arrives and the soil is a bit more moist.

Can you aerate in the middle of summer?

So yes, you can aerate the lawn in the summer – just keep reading. Warm weather grasses include Zoysia, Carpetgrass, Bermuda, Buffalo, Centipede Grass, Bahiagrass, and St. … You should aerate warm weather grass when the weather gets warm – through the late spring and early summer.

Can I scarify after aeration?

When considering both aerating and scarifying, it’s better to scarify first, then aerate– but leave a few days in between the two exercises to allow your lawn to recover before you put it through all that work again.