Do you have slow-growing and dull-looking turf? Core aeration is the answer! This is a lawn care process that involves creating tiny holes in your soil to open it up so the roots of your grass have better access to essential nutrients, water, air, and sunlight. If you have cool-season grass, fall is the best time to schedule core aeration. Fall is the peak growing point for cool-season lawns, which means your turf can recover and heal properly from being perforated.

After core aeration, you can proceed to schedule overseeding to promote thicker and more competitive grass growth. But if you have warm-season grass, then spring is the best time to aerate it. Learn more about why you should schedule core aeration for your cool-season lawn in the fall!

What is core aeration, and when should you schedule it for your cool-season grass?

Close up of a core aeration machine in action on a yard in Arlington, TN.

The summer heat is stressful to cool-season grasses. With the heat, foot traffic, lawnmower traffic, and heavy rainfall, it's no surprise that the soil on your lawn becomes compacted. Compacted soil restricts the entrance of vital nutrients into the ground. Core aeration will address that as it involves poking tiny holes into your soil to loosen it up and allow essential nutrients, water, air, and sunlight to enter. By giving your soil better access to these vital resources, the roots of your summer-stressed cool-season grass will receive the strength it needs to flourish again.

While core aeration will undoubtedly benefit your cool-season lawn, it will only stress out your lawn if done at the done wrong time. This is why we recommend aerating your cool-season grass in the fall when it is at its peak growing point. Aerating your grass at the right time gives it the best chance to recover from this service. To achieve the best results, aerate your lawn annually so it has stable and steady access to essential nutrients.

The best time to schedule fall core aeration is in September or October.

Take your lawn to the next level and schedule overseeding after fall core aeration.

The health and vibrance of your lawn rely on whether or not it is receiving enough nutrients to thrive. If you want a fuller and healthier lawn, overseeding after fall core aeration is the answer. Overseeding is the process of sowing new grass seeds on existing turf. Because core aeration has already opened up the soil so nutrients, water, and sunlight can penetrate, the grass seeds will have a better chance to germinate and grow into the verdant grass you want.

Here are more reasons why you need to schedule overseeding after you aerate in the fall if you want to take your lawn to the next level:

  • The roots of your grass will have better access to water, promoting deeper and more robust root development. This means your overseeded lawn can better tolerate drought conditions during the dog days of summer.
  • With more than enough nutrients entering the soil, your cool-season grass gets strong enough to fight off diseases.
  • Overseeding fills in the bare spots on your lawn, preventing weeds from emerging.
  • With overseeding promoting thicker grass growth, your lawn looks more vibrant and aesthetically appealing.

What if you have warm-season grass?

The Greater Memphis, TN area also has warm-season grass. These are grasses that thrive in the warmer weather and go dormant during cooler months. As with all grass types, core aeration will go a long way in achieving healthy and vibrant lawns. If you have warm-season grass, it's best to schedule core aeration in the spring. Warm-season lawns benefit the most from spring core aeration since it will help your turf rebound from the winter stress.

Call our experts today to schedule our fall core aeration services!

While stressful summer conditions are hard at work affecting your cool-season lawn, our experts at Picture Perfect Landscapes are also striving to ensure your turf is at its best. We offer core aeration services to properties in Memphis, Midtown Memphis, East Memphis, TN and surrounding communities. If you have cool-season grass, we recommend that you schedule our fall core aeration today and pair it with overseeding so you can welcome a fuller and healthier lawn. But, if you have warm-season grass, we can also aerate in spring and help it recover from winter stress. Call us at (901) 246-7656 today to schedule our services!