Core aeration relieves compacted soil and overseeding fills in thin spots, giving your lawn the thick, healthy root system it needs.
If your lawn is thin, patchy or tired after a hot summer, aeration and overseeding is usually the most effective fix short of starting over.
Core aeration pulls small plugs of soil out of the lawn. That opens up space for air, water and roots, and relieves compaction from foot traffic, mowers and kids. Right behind it we spread seed suited to our cool-season lawns, so it lands in those holes and makes good contact with the soil.
We aerate and overseed lawns in Cherry Hill, Voorhees, Sewell, Turnersville and the rest of South Jersey, mostly in early fall when conditions are best. Our family crew handles it start to finish, and every estimate is free and itemized. Aeration and overseeding pairs well with our regular lawn service, since we can adjust mowing height and timing while the new grass fills in. For lawns with larger bare areas or poor soil, sod installation may be the faster route, and we will tell you which makes more sense.
We look at thin spots, compaction, shade and grass type, and give you a free estimate.
We mow a little shorter than usual and mark sprinkler heads and shallow lines so the aerator avoids them.
The core aerator makes passes across the lawn, pulling plugs of soil. We double up on compacted areas.
Seed is spread right after aeration so it drops into the holes and contacts soil. We go over watering with you.
For tall fescue, bluegrass and rye, late August through September is the best time. The soil is warm, nights are cooler and weeds are slowing down.
Seed needs the top layer of soil kept moist until it sprouts. With sandy soil, that often means light watering once or twice a day at first.
Heavy leaf cover can smother young grass. A timely fall clean-up keeps new seedlings from getting buried.
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Early fall, roughly late August through September, is best for the cool-season lawns common here. Warm soil speeds germination, cooler air is easier on seedlings, and there is less weed competition than in spring. Spring aeration can work, but the new grass has less time before summer heat.
Yes. The plugs look a little messy for a week or two, but they break down with rain and mowing and return soil and nutrients to the surface. Raking them up takes that benefit away. Most disappear within a couple of weeks.
Most lawns benefit from aeration once a year, especially if they get a lot of foot traffic or have compacted soil. Lawns in lighter, sandy soil may do fine every other year. We can look at yours and tell you what makes sense.
Wait until the new grass is about 3 to 4 inches tall, usually two to three weeks, then mow high with a sharp blade. Avoid heavy traffic on the lawn during that time. If you are on our lawn service, we adjust the mowing around the new seed.
Sandy soil compacts less than clay, but high-traffic areas still get packed down. Aeration helps water soak in instead of running off, and overseeding into the holes gives you better seed-to-soil contact, which is what matters most for a thicker lawn.
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