Two essential services for the fall that you should schedule for your lawn in Iowa are core aeration and overseeding. Core aeration involves using an aerator to pull up plugs of soil, loosening compaction and making it easier for nutrients and other resources to reach the roots of your grass. Meanwhile, overseeding involves spreading seeds across your turf to fill in bare and patchy areas with new grass growth. When you combine these services, the seeds can fall into the holes created during aeration, giving them excellent contact with the soil and increasing their chances of successful germination. Additionally, they'll have access to the nutrients and resources they need to develop into healthy, beautiful grass.

What is core aeration?

Aerator machine on a lawn in Waukee, IA.

Core aeration is a lawn care service that involves pulling up plugs of soil, or cores, from your lawn using an aerator machine. This process helps to loosen compacted soil, which can occur over time due to foot traffic, heavy machinery, and other factors. When the soil is compacted, it becomes difficult for nutrients and other resources, such as sunlight, water, and oxygen, to reach the roots of your grass. By aerating your lawn, you create channels that allow these vital resources to penetrate deep into the soil and reach the roots. This improved access to nutrients and resources helps to strengthen your turf and promotes healthier growth.

The leftover soil cores after aeration should be left alone to decompose and return nutrients to your lawn.

What is overseeding?

Bare patch on a lawn in Waukee, IA, with grass seeds.

Overseeding is another essential lawn care service for the fall. It involves spreading grass seeds across your existing lawn to fill in any bare or patchy areas with new grass growth. This service is particularly beneficial if your lawn has thin spots or bare patches, as it helps to thicken it up and make it fuller. Not only does overseeding improve the overall appearance of your lawn, but it also increases its density, making it more resilient against stressors like diseases, insects, and weeds.

Why should you combine core aeration and overseeding?

While both core aeration and overseeding are beneficial on their own, combining them yields even better results for your lawn. When you overseed after core aeration, the seeds can fall into the holes created during the aeration process. This gives them excellent contact with the soil, increasing their chances of successful germination. Additionally, the holes provide a protective environment for the seeds, shielding them from harsh weather conditions and critters that may eat them. With better contact with the soil and protection from external factors, the seeds have a higher likelihood of developing into healthy, beautiful grass.

Moreover, by combining core aeration and overseeding, the seeds will have improved access to the nutrients and resources they need to thrive. The aeration process creates channels that allow these vital elements to penetrate deep into the soil, ensuring that the seeds receive everything they need to grow strong and vibrant. By giving the seeds the best chance of success, you can achieve a lush, green lawn that enhances the beauty of your property.

Call us today to schedule our core aeration and overseeding services!

If you want to achieve a lush, healthy lawn this fall, look no further than our core aeration and overseeding services! At Outdoors by JK, we will aerate your lawn to loosen compacted soil and make it easier for nutrients and other resources to reach the roots of your grass. Then, we will spread premium cool-season grass seeds to fill bare and patchy areas with new growth.

We serve residential and commercial properties, as well as HOAs, in Waukee, Urbandale, Clive, IA, and surrounding areas. Give us a call today at (515) 330-1123 to schedule our core aeration and overseeding services!