Fall Aeration and Seeding Information



The best time to aerate and over seed a lawn is typically in the late summer or early fall. Aeration helps loosen compacted soil, allowing water, oxygen, and nutrients to reach grass roots more easily. Overseeding adds new grass seed into existing turf for increased thickness and improved appearance of your lawn.

It can help in many ways, including:

  • Better root development
  • Strong Grassroots in the spring
  • Reduced weeds
  • Preparation for winter –helps your lawn weather the winter
  • Sets up success for the following year
Aeration and overseeding with starter fertilizer and lime application.
Aeration is the process of removing small plugs, or cores, of dirt at regular intervals throughout a lawn. This cuts through compacted soil, introducing much-needed oxygen and water to starved roots. Well-aerated soil promotes healthy grass, and it also creates a perfect home for new grass seed, allowing it to thrive.

Overseeding is the term for when you spread new seed over an existing lawn, and it’s an effec-tive way to get dense, thick grass. The new seed fills in bare spaces amid the older grass, and the root systems grow stronger against pests and drought. The result is a softer, denser, healthier lawn.

Spring Aeration vs Fall Aeration
The timing of when you choose to aerate and overseed a lawn is actually really important. Think about it: soil temperatures, air temperatures, germination, growth cycles — the season, the month, and even the day you choose will have an effect on all those variables.

At MRD Landscaping , we recommend aerating and overseeding in the fall, because it’s better for the lawn. Fall aeration takes into account your grass’s natural root expansion, and helps it pre-pare for the winter by giving it room to spread and strengthen its root system. As the temperatures cool down, the grass isn’t fighting against blistering hot sun, either, and can focus on root growth. Plus, aerating in the fall is good timing as the cold-weather season approaches, giving the soil “breathing room” for the inevitable freeze-thaw cycles to come.

Aerating in the fall is the perfect prep for overseeding, too, creating a spacious, welcoming environment for all those new seeds to take root. Lots of water, oxygen, and vitamins can reach the developing root systems of the baby plants, setting them up for success.

If you were to aerate and overseed in the spring , you might be creating the perfect environment — for weeds. They, too, love loosened, oxygenated soil and lots of nutrients. The weed seeds then fight with the grass seeds to take over, putting all your hard work and effort to waste.

You’re also putting your lawn at risk of disease, since spring weather often brings mold, mildew, and fungus. Aerating at this time gives these disease vectors a straight shot to your lawn’s root system.

That’s why MRD Landscaping prefers a fall aeration and overseeding to give your lawn the best chance at strong healthy growth.

This is why MRD Landscaping is the company to call when you are looking for maximum results for all of your fall landscaping needs.

Call MRD Landscaping @ (401) 480-6709 / or (774) 507-0300