Aeration & Seeding For Your Fescue Lawn
Aeration & Seeding Service
Aeration and seeding are some of the most important things you can do for your Fescue lawn. And it’s most effective in September and October, just as the Fescue growing season begins.
Because of the heavy clay content of our soil, compaction is an issue. Compaction prevents oxygen, water and nutrients from reaching the roots of the grass plants. This causes the grass to develop shallow roots, making it more susceptible to drought, heat and disease.
Aeration
Aeration is the removal of small plugs of soil from your lawn. This loosens the clay soil allowing oxygen, water and nutrients to reach the roots giving you better and deeper root growth. Aeration also helps to control thatch, the dead layer of grass left over from mowing, by providing oxygen to the microorganisms that break down the thatch layer. Excessive thatch slows growth and weakens turf.
Seeding
Overseeding is the process of spreading new grass seed throughout your lawn to help it grow. Fall seeding is required to maintain dense, healthy strands of grass. The normal Fescue lawn loses about 1/3 of grass so it is important to replace what is lost. Fescue’s spreading capacity and ability to self-repair after damage is limited. The new growth from the Fescue seed will help cover any thin or bare areas, and improve the overall health, color and appearance of the lawn.
Pre-Service Care
Prior to your core aeration and seeding treatment, it is imperative that the homeowner completes the following steps.
- Mow your lawn 1″-2″ in height.
- Bag the clippings and rake out any excessive thatch.
- Rake up all dead weeds and dead grass if your lawn is being renovated.
- Water thoroughly. We suggest watering one hour per zone the night before your service.
- Mark all sprinkler heads, shallow cables, invisible fence wires, etc.
- Unlock gates and put your pets inside.
After Service Care
After service, your lawn will need daily attention. The new Fescue seeds will need to stay moist meaning some amount of watering daily will be necessary. Because of the variances in lawns, irrigation systems and watering methods, giving an exact watering time is impossible; however, a good guideline is to never let the seeded areas become completely dry and don’t allow standing water.
If you have a Fescue lawn, contact us today to schedule your free evaluation and estimate for Aeration & Seeding.