Aeration and Seeder

Due to pressure, weight, and gravity, the soil in your lawn can get compacted over time. This might harden the surface, compressing and suffocating the roots. A comprehensive aeration treatment from a professional landscaper will help you avoid this. You can remove little lumps of soil from the surface and enable the rest of it to breathe using this method. Aeration relieves strain on the soil and loosens it, allowing grass roots to grow and spread.

You already know you need seeding if your grass has dead, barren, or thin patches. While you may be aware that your ultimate aim is a healthy, green lawn, you may be unsure how to get there. After all, there are various lawn seeding techniques to choose from, and you’ll want to know which one is best for your Allentown, Bethlehem, or Easton property.

When to Aerate Your Lawn

When you aerate the lawn, and your grass is in its peak growing period so it can recover quickly, think early spring or fall for cool-season grasses and late spring through early summer for warm-season grasses. If you have high-traffic areas or heavy clay soil, aerate every year. If you have sandy soil or your lawn is growing well, aerating the lawn can happen every 2-3 years. 

When is Aeration Needed?

Foot traffic, mowing, feeding, and watering can cause the soil to become compacted over time. When this occurs, patches of your lawn may turn brown and thin or may even die out if the roots can’t get enough moisture, fertilizer, or air.

Why Should You Aerate Your Lawn?

Heavy recreational use, active pets, autos, and even lawnmowers can compact the soil beneath your grass over time. Using a core aerator to remove soil cores from the ground generates small cylinder-shaped holes in the top three to four inches of your lawn, allowing air, water, nutrients, and even grass seed to enter the root zone quickly and readily. Not only does soil compaction prevent all of these beneficial organisms from entering the soil, but it can also lead to the formation of a thick thatch layer. Thatch is a layer of decomposing grass stems, roots, clippings, and residues that builds upon the soil surface over time. It can function similarly to a thatch roof, preventing water from infiltrating your lawn. Aerating regularly will help build healthier soil and limit build-up, keeping your lawn absorbent and receptive to water, fertilizer, and air.

Why does my lawn need aeration? 

The hammering of solid rains, as well as walking on it, can compact your lawn over time. Water, nutrients, and air cannot reach the plant’s root system because of the compacted surface. During the growing season, aeration can be done at any time. The amount of aeration your grass requires is determined by its soil compaction. Spring and fall are the most popular times to aerate. Aeration in the spring gives grass plants a boost and speeds up greening; aeration in the fall strengthens subsurface root systems while also providing an excellent bed for overseeding.

What is Slice Seeding?

Slice seeding, sometimes known as “slit seeding,” is a method for sowing your lawn that you may have heard of. The procedure uses a slice seeder, which uses vertical blades to cut 1/2 to 1-inch deep slices in the earth. The grass seed is then strewn across the slices. By cutting these deep slices, the seed is exposed to the earth, where it will germinate most effectively. Slice seeding is one of the most intensive lawn seeding procedures for existing lawns, notwithstanding its effectiveness. There’s no need for something that intensive if your lawn is in half-decent form. A slice seeder will pull out existing plants and till up most of your healthy lawn. As a result, it’s usually only regarded as a strategy for lawns that require a thorough makeover from the ground up. Slice seeding is costly in terms of money because slice seeding is such a time-consuming operation, most organizations that provide this service demand a high price.

What is Grading and Seeding?

Another extensive lawn seeding process is grading and seeding. Excavation equipment is used to push the existing soil around to achieve the desired grade. After the new grade has been established, grass seed is applied to the surface, covered with a layer of straw or erosion matting. These components aid in the retention of moisture by the new seed as it germinates. This grass seeding method is very aggressive and is usually reserved for new construction or lawns with drainage or grading issues. Grading and seeding most existing lawns is not only overkill but also an expensive task.

What is Hydroseeding?

This lawn seeding process involves mixing seed, mulch, fertilizer, and soil amendments with water and spraying them on the lawn. Hydroseeding is most commonly employed on slopes where runoff makes it challenging to drive equipment and set seed. The seed would “stick” to the hilly sections, according to the plan. Unfortunately, unless you’ve also taken steps to improve your soil quality and soften the earth so that the new seeds can root more quickly, this sowing strategy is mainly unsuccessful.

What are Aeration and Overseeding?

More oxygen, water, and nutrients can enter deeper into the soil and down to the root zone, where they are most required. This creates an ideal environment for the root system to develop and expand, which is critical since healthier roots equal healthy grass.

 Overseeding is a service that is best conducted in conjunction with aeration. The seeds will fall into the holes formed by the aerator, enabling seed-to-soil contact when done this way. This creates the ideal environment for seeds to germinate and grow roots.

There are various advantages to direct seeding:

1. Areas may be swiftly and inexpensively re-vegetated.

2. Seeds are less expensive than seedlings.

3. Seed is less expensive and easier to transport than seedlings.

4. Seeding takes less time and effort than growing seedlings.

5. Trees, shrubs, and groundcovers can all be planted at the same time.