AFTERCARE
Lawn Aeration:
Your lawn was aerated using a mechanical process that extracts cores of soil, thatch and grass from the surface of the lawn. Your after care instructions are to simply leave the plugs (cores of soil) where they are and to mow as usual. Don’t you love a service that can have such a positive impact on the health of your lawn but requires no extra work from you?
Benefits of Core Aeration:
- Increases moisture penetration
- Enhances oxygen exchange (important for healthy roots)
- Reduces soil compaction (especially soils high in clay)
- Supports penetration of fertilizers and other lawn products
- Assists rate of thatch decomposition
- Aids in root development
Golf courses and athletic field managers have realized the benefits of aeration on their turf fields for years and frequently aerate their grounds multiple times throughout the year.
How Long Will the Plugs Stay on the Lawn? Depending on your grass type and height, you may see relatively large amounts of plugs lying on top of the lawn. This is normal and the plugs should be left alone. They will begin to breakdown and filter back into the lawn, aiding the thatch decomposition process. Through rainfall and mowing, these cores will breakdown over a two week period. Irrigation will speed up this process.
We recommend lawn aeration twice annually to ensure the healthiest lawn possible.
Lawn De – thatching:
After you lawn has been DE-thatched rake up the organic material for composting or pick-up. Your lawn may now look like it is unhealthy or bare but this is perfectly normal as it will benefit from it in the long run. Now is the perfect time to over-seed and fertilize your lawn. For best results we recommend having your lawn aerated prior to seed and fertilizer.
Over Seeding & Fertilization:
Now that your lawn has been aerated, seeded and fertilized it is important to keep you lawn damp. Keeping grass seeds and seedlings constantly damp but not soggy is critical. Water newly seeded areas a couple times a day with a light spray to keep the seeds damp. Stop watering when puddles begin to appear on the soil surface. Once the seeds germinate and grass seedlings begin to grow, gradually transition to watering less frequently but more heavily. Taper off watering as the grass becomes taller and more mature. Seed best germinates with day time temperatures between 55f and 80f. Lawn starter fertilizer is not kid or pet friendly and treated area should be avoided.
It is very important to keep foot traffic off of the lawn until the grass is mature (30-45days). Seed germination can take anywhere 7 to 30 days and sometimes longer if the air temperature is cooler.
Once your grass reaches 3 inches high, it’s ready to withstand mowing. Never remove more than one-third of the grass blade in a single mowing or you can stress your grass and invite disease, weeds and weak growth. If we are over-seeding your lawn in the fall it may be best to wait until spring for a first mow.