Core aeration For dense, compacted lawns
Opens up hard, compacted soil so water, air and fertilizer reach the roots. A good yearly habit for clay soils and high-traffic yards.
- Clay or heavy soil
- Kids, pets and play areas
- Water puddles or runs off
Late summer & fall Aeration & overseeding.
We pull thousands of soil cores to relieve compaction, then seed into the openings while the soil is still warm. It’s the most effective single step for turning a thin, tired lawn into a thick one.
- Best window
- Late August – September
- Equipment
- Core aerator and slit seeder
- Seed
- Bluegrass, rye and fescue blends
- Germination
- 7 to 21 days
What the visit includes.
Prep, aeration, seed and the aftercare plan, so the new grass actually takes.
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01
Marking first
Sprinkler heads, shallow lines and invisible pet fences flagged before any equipment touches the lawn.
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02
Core aeration
Two- to three-inch soil cores pulled across the whole lawn, with extra passes on compacted traffic areas.
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03
Overseeding
A seed blend chosen for your sun and shade, spread so it lands in the aeration holes.
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04
Slit seeding bare spots
Seed cut directly into bare or very thin patches for much better soil contact.
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05
Starter fertilizer
Phosphorus-rich feeding that helps new roots establish quickly.
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06
Watering schedule
A written plan for the next three weeks, which matters more than anything we do on the day.
Timing
Why fall wins.
Spring seeding can work for small repairs, but new grass and crabgrass germinate at the same soil temperatures, and the crabgrass usually wins.
By late summer the soil is still warm, nights are cooler, weed pressure is low and rain is more reliable. Seedlings get six to eight weeks of root growth before winter, then a head start in spring.
- Soil temperature
- 55 – 65°F, ideal for germination
- Weed pressure
- Low; crabgrass is finished for the year
- Moisture
- More consistent rain, cooler nights
- Root time
- Six to eight weeks before the ground freezes
Aerate, or aerate and seed?
Every lawn benefits from aeration. Whether it needs seed depends on how thick it is today.
Aeration + overseeding For thin or patchy lawns
Everything aeration does, plus new seed to fill thin areas and introduce tougher, more disease-resistant grass varieties.
- Thin turf you can see soil through
- Bare spots after summer stress
- Lawns that never seem to thicken
Before, during and after.
The results depend on the three weeks after we leave.
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i.
Mow short first
We cut a little lower than usual on the last visit before aeration so seed reaches the soil.
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ii.
Aerate and seed
Cores pulled, seed down, starter fertilizer applied, usually in a single visit.
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iii.
Water daily
Light, frequent watering for two to three weeks keeps the seed moist until it sprouts.
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iv.
First mow
Once the new grass reaches about three and a half inches, usually three to four weeks later.
Aeration questions.
Should the soil cores be left on the lawn?
Yes. They break down in a week or two with rain and mowing, returning soil and microbes to the surface. Raking them up removes the benefit.
How often should a lawn be aerated?
Every year for clay soils and heavily used lawns; every two to three years for lighter soils with less traffic.
Can I put down weed control after seeding?
Not right away. Most weed controls harm young grass, so we wait until the new seedlings have been mowed two or three times.
Can you aerate in spring?
Yes, on request. Spring aeration helps compacted soil, but we generally hold overseeding until fall for better results.
Request a quote
Reserve a fall slot.
The late-summer window is short and books up quickly. Send us the address and we’ll reply within one business day with a price and available dates.
- Call
- (608) 555-0142
- hello@mowedlawns.com
- Hours
- Mon–Fri 7am – 6pm
Saturday 8am – 2pm