Regular lawn maintenance such as mowing and hydrating are vital. However, they aren't the only ways to ensure a healthy lawn. Aeration and overseeding are two important lawn care services that will set your lawn up for success. These two processes are done annually to maintain a dense turf that can absorb and hold nutrients well. Aeration involves perforating your lawn with small holes to relieve soil compaction while overseeding involves planting new seeds in your existing turf so you can welcome a lush lawn every year.

Because they are lesser-known lawn services when compared to mowing and watering, our clients usually have a few questions about how each service works and why it would be beneficial for their lawn. We have compiled these frequently asked questions and their answers below!

What is core aeration?

Core aeration holes in a lawn near Woodstock, GA.

The process of core aeration involves removing cores of soil from your lawn to relieve soil compaction. By doing this, the roots of your grass can better absorb nutrients, water, and sunlight. Core aeration should be done annually. Here are some of the benefits your lawn will receive from core aeration:

  • Loosened soil and reduced compaction
  • Improved circulation and absorption of water, sunlight, and nutrients
  • Reduced water runoff and enhanced drainage
  • Better seed-to-soil contact
  • Stronger root growth

Do I really need to aerate my lawn?

If there is soil compaction in your lawn, yes, you need to aerate your lawn. Pressure from foot traffic and frequent mowing commonly causes soil compaction, making it difficult for the roots of your grass to absorb essential nutrients, sunlight, and water, thus, affecting your lawn's growth.

What is overseeding?

Overseeding a patchy lawn outside Marietta, Georgia.

Overseeding is the process of spreading grass seeds throughout an existing lawn. This helps keep your lawn looking healthy and vigorous without having to start from scratch. Overseeding will fill in the bare or thin spots on your lawn, resulting in an improved curb appeal and denser turf.

Do all lawns need these services?

It doesn't matter if your lawn has cool-season or warm-season grass - it will definitely benefit from aeration and overseeding. However, the timing for these services depends on the grass type that you have. Cool-season grass thrives when the weather sits around 60 degrees Fahrenheit, whereas warm-season grass considers 90 degrees Fahrenheit to be ideal. Because core aeration is the process of pulling up parts of your soil, it is best to schedule this service when your lawn is best equipped to handle stress. Overseeding is also best to do when your turf is at its strongest point to give the new seeds the best chance to succeed. We recommend that you check with your lawn professional to find out your grass type.

Andrew O'Neill at TurfXpert.

Lawns with cool-season grass should be core aerated and overseeded in the fall.

Can aeration and overseeding help with weed control?

Absolutely! Weeds love thin lawns with bare spots because this gives them ample room to establish their roots and begin their spread. Once weeds have established their roots, they will steal nutrients from your grass and desired plants. Aeration and overseeding will make your lawn stronger and better equipped to fight off weeds.

What other benefits do these services provide for my lawn?

If your lawn has been affected by lawn insects and/or fungal disease before, the damage may have resulted in unappealing, weak grass. Treatments for lawn insects and disease will eradicate the issue, however, they won't reverse the damage that has already been done. Aeration and overseeding will help your grass recover from infestation and disease damage. Moreover, these services also help prevent lawn issues from happening again in the future.

Schedule our aeration and overseeding services for a healthy and lush lawn!

Now that you know the ins and outs of aeration and overseeding, it's time to schedule! Our aeration and overseeding services will give you the strong, lush lawn you've always dreamed of. At TurfXpert, we offer our services to commercial, residential, and HOA properties in the Woodstock, Georgia area, including Roswell and Alpharetta. If your home or business is located nearby, give our office a call today at (833) 444-8873 to schedule.