Aeration and Seeding
Time to Aerate and Seed!
As the leaves begin to change and the air turns crisper, it’s time to think about your fall landscaping maintenance routine. While many homeowners associate spring with lawn care, the autumn season is equally crucial for establishing tall fescue mixes, fine fescue mixes, and Kentucky bluegrass. Presently, temperatures align with late-September norms, with a historical trend of further decline into October and November. Delaying the process risks compromising germination rates for these grasses due to cooler conditions. Additionally, it’s advantageous to distribute the seed before the leaves descend and conceal the yard from any available sunlight.
In this blog post, we’ll explore the essential practices of aeration and seeding and explain why they are essential for a stunning yard in the fall.
Understanding Aeration:
Aeration, in the context of lawn care, refers to the process of perforating the soil with small holes or cores to allow essential nutrients, air, and water to penetrate the roots more effectively. This process can be done using specialized equipment like core aerators, spike aerators, aera-vators, or manually with aeration shoes or hand aerating tools.
Why Aeration Matters in Cool Season Grasses: Tall fescue mix, fine fescue mix and Kentucky bluegrass
- Relieving Soil Compaction: Over time, soil can become compacted, limiting the flow of nutrients, water, and oxygen to the root systems. Aerating yearly alleviates this issue, promoting healthier growth during the growing season.
- Enhancing Root Development: By creating space for roots to expand and breathe, aeration encourages stronger and deeper root development. This results in a more drought-resilient lawn going into the Piedmont region of North Carolina’s summer months of May, June, July, and August.
- Improved Nutrient Absorption: A well-aerated lawn can better absorb all types of fertilizers, and other nutrients, ensuring your grass gets the nourishment it needs through the growing season.
- Thatch Reduction: While dethatching removes thatch from the grass layer above the soil structure, aeration helps break down the layer of thatch (accumulated organic debris) on the surface when core plugs are pulled from the soil structure.
How to Aerate Your Lawn:
Aerating your lawn in the fall is relatively straightforward!
- Rent an aerator or hire a professional lawn care service.
- Ensure your soil is slightly moist, as aerating dry soil can be less effective when core aerating. This can be achieved by aerating after rainfall or turning on your irrigation system for its current set time per zone.
- Run the aerator over your lawn, making passes once horizonal and then once vertically over your lawn.
- Leave the soil plugs (cores) on your lawn’s surface; they will break down and return valuable nutrients to the soil.
Seeding for Success:
Seeding is the process of adding new grass seed to your existing lawn. This practice helps fill in bare patches and helps thicken the existing grass stand.
Why Seeding Matters in Fall:
Ideal Growing Conditions: Fall cooler temperatures and consistent moisture create optimal conditions for growing tall fescue mix/fine fescue mix and Kentucky bluegrass in the Piedmont region of North Carolina.
Thicker, Fuller Lawn: Seeding in the Fall allows your grass to establish itself before winter, resulting in a denser, more resilient lawn come spring.
Weed Suppression: A thick lawn discourages weed growth by depriving weeds of the space and sunlight they need to thrive.
When should you aerate and seed?: Aerating and seeding should take place in the Piedmont region of North Carolina between September 12 – October 31st for optimal planting of tall fescue, tall fescue mix, fine fescue mix, and Kentucky bluegrass.
Seeding Rates for cool season grasses in the Piedmont region:
- Kentucky bluegrass/tall fescue mix: 1lb KB + 5lbs TFM per thousand square feet.
- Kentucky bluegrass/tall fescue/fine fescue mix: 1lb KB +5lbs TF + 1lb FFM per thousand square feet.
- Tall Fescue: 6 pounds per thousand square feet.
Read spreader manuals for necessary settings for seeding rates per thousand.
Soil test and fertilizing: For maintaining an established lawn and non-established lawn it’s crucial to conduct a soil test every two to three years. This analysis is essential for gauging the required levels of lime, phosphorus, and potassium. Neglecting this step may result in either insufficient or excessive fertilization, potentially causing harm to the plants, contaminating stormwater, and incurring unnecessary expenses. (Take a soil test)
- Soil Probes: Can be ordered online at Amazon. https://a.co/d/3epRyUE
- NC Soil Testing and Bags: Can be picked up at your local county Agricultural center. The NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Soils Lab offers complimentary nutrient and pH testing services to North Carolina residents throughout the year, except during the peak season (December 1 to March 31), when a nominal fee of $4 applies.
https://gardening.ces.ncsu.edu/soils/soil-testing/
- Private Soil Testing and Bags: You can also get soil testing bags and soil testing done with private corporations such as Waters Agriculture Laboratories, Inc https://watersag.com/
*Fertilizing rate: Rate will be dependent on soil test and what is recommended for your yard or project.
So there you have it, it’s like giving your grass the VIP treatment they never knew they needed! Contact us today and let us help you reach your yards fullest potential. Happy lawn care, and may your grass always be greener on the other side! 704-389-0159
