If your lawn took a beating this summer, autumn is your moment. In Northern Virginia, cooler nights and still warm soil give new grass seed the perfect start-far better than spring-so you get stronger roots now and greener turf next spring.
Lawn Care After Aeration
The process is simple; there are a few things you need to do once you’ve aerated your lawn. First, let the soil plugs break down naturally.
Then, either use emergent weed killer or overseed your lawn. You can’t do both!
Fertilize! This is the Green Horizon secret sauce for the successful lawn. Buyer beware; not all fertilizers are equal…
No, you shouldn’t walk on your lawn after you have just aerated it. In fact, one of the steps after aerating your lawn should be not to walk on it. Try staying off for 3 days or more if you can.
Walking on the lawn will cause compaction and it can prevent seeds from sprouting and the soil from getting all the oxygen and nutrients it would otherwise get if the area was left to “rest” for a while.
No, you should not pick up the plugs after aerating the lawn.
After a few days, the plugs should have broken down completely, aided by deep watering and exposure to the elements.
It won’t take long for the plugs to be completely unnoticeable on your lawn.
Green Horizon spreads a slow-release fertilizer directly after lawn aeration for the most effective way of getting nutrients down to the grassroots.
This will help your lawn establish itself for the upcoming summer heat. The well-fertilized lawn will be thick and lush too.
Aeration is most effective on a lawn that has slightly moist soil. Avoid mowing lawns directly after aeration.
Aim to mow right before aeration, at about 3 inches. This ensures that your seeds can germinate and establish healthy roots before you need to mow again.
No, you should avoid mowing right after aerating your lawn, especially if you’re overseeding it. Your next lawn mow should be in two to four weeks.
The aeration process itself only takes 1-2 hours. Of course, this depends on the size of your lawn.
The breaking down of the soil plugs is when the real magic is happening – this takes around two weeks. It’s best not to walk on the area for at least two weeks to let this happen naturally.
The question of watering begs to be answered. When should you water your lawn once the aeration is complete? Read on…
Watering After Aeration
Once your lawn has been aerated, you need to drench it as soon as possible. It is important to keep the soil moist for seed germination.
If you let the soil dry out, it is highly likely it will have a negative impact on your lawn.
Final Thoughts from your Green Horizon Team
It’s important to aerate your lawn annually. Following these simple steps above will make your lawn care after aeration the most effective. And by the way, it’s not too late to get on board with fall core-aeration and overseeding. Call today to secure your spot on schedule! Refer your friends and neighbors, and you each will receive a $50 discount on our fall services if they jump on board by October 10, 2025.
