How does aeration help my lawn in fall?

Core aeration mitigates the damage caused by summer by creating holes in compacted soil. This will allow water, air, and nutrients to penetrate the root zone, which is especially important before the grass goes dormant for the winter. I have taken lawns back from the brink when you couldn't poke a hole in the turf due to foot traffic like it was concrete. With aeration, I was able to reclaim 80% turf density after six weeks of the process.

Caring for your lawn after aeration will maximize the results. You should apply 24-0-10 fertilizer within 48 hours since the holes created from aeration can directly funnel nutrients to the roots. You can be overseed immediately afterward for an even greater chance of success since germination rates are at about 90%. A client in Michigan did this, and he reported great results with his turf, which was as lush as a golf course lawn, despite brutal winters from the lake effect.

Don't make a mistake commonly made by landscapers. Aerating grass when it's dormant stresses your grass; do so when the grass is in an active state of growth. When aerating, leave the soil plugs on the lawns because they will decompose in around ten days and release beneficial microbes into the soil. Once I had to correct a mistake made by a landscaper. The homeowner used the soil plugs as free mulch in their flower beds, their mistakes can often be fruitful!

Read the full article: 10 Expert Fall Lawn Care Strategies for a Lush Yard