Let Your NJ Lawn Breathe – Core Aeration and Overseeding
It’s the end of summer, and this is the perfect time to help your Bergen County lawn grow stronger. During the hot summer months, your lawn may have developed some bare spots. Or you’ve noticed that your yard grass is thinning in certain areas such as under your trees. Your lawn can return to a thick, carpet of grass with core aeration and overseeding services. Late summer and early fall are the perfect times to aerate your yard. The ground temperatures are warm and perfect for turf growth and new grass seed to germinate.
In this blog post, you’ll learn more about what core aeration and overseeding entail, how both services benefit your lawn and how you’ll continue to see these benefits well into the following spring.
What is core aeration?
Your lawn maintenance crew will use an aerator to pull plugs of soil from your turf or lawn. These plugs will then breakdown back into the ground as your sprinkler system runs or as it rains.
The ¾” holes created by the core aerator allow the soil to breathe releasing carbon dioxide and breathing in oxygen. Plus, water, fertilizer, sunlight and grass seed will penetrate deeply into the ground.
Further, the soil is loosened up, allowing the root system to grow and reach deep into the ground. You want your yard grass to develop deep root systems to find moisture during hot summer months and store food over the winter.
Core aeration also helps to reduce thatch—that layer between the soil and the grass. Thatch is made up of dead roots, stems and other plant materials. Depositing soil plugs on top of the turf assists in the breakdown and decomposition of the thatch build up (or Layer) in your lawn.
It’s fine to have a half inch of thatch—but if it grows out of control, your lawn will be more susceptible to disease and insect infestation.
Read more about lawn renovation, thatch and power raking in this blog post.
Time to Overseed
After Aerating, seed and fertilizer will be applied which will fall directly to soil contact and into the holes. Occasionally, when your lawn maintenance company finds areas that are weak from a drought or the hot summer sun, they may use a slit-seeder to deposit grass seed directly into the grounds to help improve thin areas.
After Core Aeration and Overseeding
Your lawn care company will give you instructions to regularly water your lawn to help the new grass seed grow. After overseeding, you will want to keep your seed and soil moist to promote germination. The seed should not be allowed to dry out once wet so that it has a good opportunity to grow. Typically watering 2-3 times a day will promote faster germination and turf growth.
Learn how your landscaping company can improve your curb appeal
The End Result?
You’ll notice your seedlings coming up a few weeks later. Then by the end of fall, your property should have a healthy lawn again.
Next spring, you’ll still be reaping the rewards of fall core aeration and overseeding when your grass greens up and is so thick that there is zero room for weeds.
If your Bergen County lawn is looking thin and bare, you need us at Horizon Landscape. Call us today at 201-848-0022 or fill out our contact form to make your appointment.
He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills.
-Psalm 147:8