Power-Seeding Vs. Aeration: Which Is Best For Your Kentucky Lawn?
Following summer, your lawn has most likely weathered the notorious Kentucky heat, along with dry spells and high traffic. The natural consequence of these inevitable conditions are dry spots and thinning grass. If you have had issues with insects, pests, fungi or other lawn diseases these can also take a toll as well. The good news is, rejuvenating your lawn and restoring its health is possible this fall, and there are a couple of different approaches for accomplishing that. Power-seeding uses a machine that slices into the lawn, cutting a slit into the soil. The grass seed is then mechanically deposited into the soil. Aeration involves removing cores of grass and soil to allow water, air and nutrients to reach plant roots.
Power-seeding involves using a tractor with the machine attached or, for smaller spaces, a stand-alone engine operated system will do the slit-seeding job. Power-seeding injects seed directly into slits in the soil which is critical for germination. Power-seeding is efficient and delivers more timely results in terms of germination and new grass growth. Again, that’s because seed is dropped into slits in the soil.
Aeration involves mechanically pulling plugs of turf from the ground. Each “core” that is removed will reveal a cork-sized cross-section of what lies beneath the surface. You’ll see the grass on top, followed by thatch (buildup of green matter), then soil. These cores are left on the surface of your property and decompose back into the lawn. Aeration prepares the soil to welcome new turf growth. Directly after aeration is an ideal time to over-seed your lawn. Over-seeding is ideal for lawns that are thinning out and need rejuvenation after a long summer.
Over-seeding is an important step to restore your lawn’s health. Strong, healthy turf can more easily combat weeds, disease and insects on its own. Over-seeding is one of many sustainable practices to achieve an attractive, lush, vibrant lawn.
In Kentucky, late August through fall is prime time for power-seeding, aeration and over-seeding due to the cooler nighttime temperatures and increased moisture during this season.
Because no two residential or commercial properties are the same, decisions like how to seed should always be considered on a case-by-case basis. It is important is to know your options, and to partner with a landscape maintenance professional that can assess your lawn and it’s specific needs. If you live in Brandenburg, Kentucky or the surrounding area call the professionals at Lancaster Lawn & Landscaping, LLC to find out how you can restore the health of your lawn. Call us or fill out this contact form and we’ll get in touch with you.