How to Mow, Weed, Aerate, Over-Seed, and Otherwise Fix Your Lawn

Tip #3:  Plug (or) Core Aerate Your Lawn

• De-compact your soil, which aides root growth
• Allow air molecules, moisture, and fertilizers to get to your turf’s roots
• Let subterranean microbes to the surface to break down the thatch layer
• Set the stage for over-seeding

Aerating Your Lawn:

Typically turf aeration is recommended for Early Spring or Fall.  There are 2 reasons for this:

1. Grass is “dormant” in the Summer and Winter
2. There’s typically more moisture / rain in the Spring and Fall

I chose to ignore this advice and aerate in mid-June because after a prolonged dry spell for most of May, June has been very wet, and I expect the grass to grow just fine when it gets this much rain.

When core aerating, you want very moist soil, but not muddy soil.  If you have to water a lot the day before you aerate, so be it.  I prefer to let Nature prepare my lawn with heavy rains, but not everyone enjoys my climate.  And remember to aerate in multiple directions across your lawn.

plug / core aeration of your lawn

You can hire a local lawn-care company to aerate your lawn, or you can buy an aerator (what I did).  Below is a photo if the model I purchased.  I found it online from the Home Depot, and it was more affordable than any similar brand’s models.  This model is manufactured by Brinly, and has worked well for me.

What I found when looking to get my yard aerated is that paying a company to aerate my approx. 10,000 sq/ft lawn would cost about $80, and I wasn’t sure how thorough they would be.  Since I found a 48″ aerator for $130, I figured I’ll be money-ahead after 2 aerations (and if I do a poor job, it’s MY job).

pull-behind plug - core aerator

Tip #4:  Over-Seed Your Lawn

• Fills in and re-invigorates your turf
• Use decent quality seed which is appropriate for your climate
• Over-seed within a few days to a few weeks after you’ve plug-aerated
• Water well (if Mother Nature isn’t providing rain)
• Apply between 1 and 4 pounds of seed per 1,000 sq/ft.  (you be the judge)

I live in the northern part of the country, so I sewed an “Athletic Mix” of Tall Fescue and Kentucky Blue Grass.  If you live in the South, you’ll likely plant something like Zoysia, St. Augustine, or Bermuda.  This subject is all about personal preference and geographical locale.

What IS important when you’re seeding (or over-seeding) is that your seeds land in an area where they can be surrounded or covered with loose soil.  This is why I over-seed after plug aerating, because there’s a lot of soil cores laying on top of the lawn, and with mowing and rain, those cores will pulverize and refill the holes.  Combine this with water, and it will provide a fertile place for seed to germinate.  Spreading seed on top of compacted soil, or not at-least raking the seeds into loose topsoil will yield poor results.

For real and effective over-seeding, you need to rent an Overseeder machine.  For more on this topic, click here.

Tip #5: Get Your Soil Tested (If Necessary)

• Take soil samples from different areas of your lawn and pay your local extension office to test them
• When you find out your soil’s pH level, you’ll know whether to add Lime or Sulphur

Turf grasses typically thrive in soil with a pH between 5.5 and 6.5 (slightly acidic).  If none of the other tips have helped you achieve your desired lawn (and do yourself a favor and give it a few months to evaluate), then you may have a soil pH issue, or an insect issue (like grubs).  I’m not going to discuss turf-insect-infestation problems in this article, as I have no experience with it.  But, I can provide links to helpful info on soil pH and County Extension Offices.

Soil pH links:

• Purdue Turfgrass Science Program: Soil Testing For Lawns (PDF)
• eXtension.org: Raising Soil pH and Soil Acidification

County Extension Office links:

• eXtension.org (at the top of the screen: click on “Find a U.S. Institution”)
• USDA Cooperative Extension Office Locator

Conclusion:

Let me know if I’ve left something out, and if you have related tips, or questions.  Remember, I’m not a lawn care expert, just printing about what worked for me.

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