Aeration & Overseeding Guide
How aeration relieves compacted soil, how overseeding thickens a thin lawn, and when to book both for your type of grass.
Over time, foot traffic, mowing and heavy rain pack soil down. Compacted soil keeps air, water and fertilizer from reaching the roots, so grass thins out no matter how well it's fed. Clay soils compact fastest.
Aeration opens the soil back up. Core aeration pulls small plugs of soil out of the lawn. Liquid aeration uses a soil treatment that loosens compacted soil over time. Pairing aeration with overseeding gives new seed good contact with the soil and is one of the best ways to thicken a tired lawn.
What it includes
- Core aeration with plug removal
- Liquid aeration treatments
- Overseeding with a seed blend suited to your lawn
- Slit seeding for thin or bare areas
- Starter fertilizer for new seed
- Watering instructions after seeding
- Marking of sprinkler heads and buried lines
- Follow-up checks on germination
How the service works
Check the soil
A technician looks for compaction, thatch buildup and thin areas that would benefit from seed.
Aerate
The lawn is aerated in multiple passes, focusing on high-traffic and thin areas.
Seed
Seed goes down right after aeration, when the holes give it the best contact with soil.
Water and wait
You'll get a watering schedule. Most seed sprouts in one to three weeks.
When to aerate and overseed
Cool-season lawns are best aerated and overseeded from late August through early October. Warm soil helps seed sprout quickly, and cool nights help the new grass establish before winter.
Warm-season lawns like Bermuda and zoysia are aerated in late spring and early summer, while they're growing fast and can recover. They're usually not overseeded with the same grass; thin areas are filled with sod, plugs or by letting the lawn spread.
Questions to ask a lawn care company
- Do you offer core aeration, liquid aeration or both?
- Which seed blend will you use, and why?
- How should I water after seeding?
- Will you mark my sprinkler heads before aerating?
Common questions
How often should a lawn be aerated?
Most lawns benefit from aeration once a year. Lawns on heavy clay or with lots of foot traffic may need it more often, while sandy soils need it less.
Should I leave the soil plugs on the lawn?
Yes. The plugs break down in a week or two with rain and mowing, returning soil and nutrients to the surface.
Can I mow after overseeding?
Hold off until the new grass reaches normal mowing height, usually three to four weeks. Then mow with a sharp blade and avoid scalping.
Is liquid aeration as good as core aeration?
They work differently. Core aeration gives immediate relief and a great seedbed. Liquid aeration treats the whole lawn evenly and can be repeated through the season. Some programs use both.
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