Lawn Aeration opens the soil and allows nutrients and water to enter the
ground.
We highly recommend having your lawn aerated at least once every two years at
the very minimum.
Why
Aerate?
Through the process of aeration, soil compaction is relieved and oxygen can
travel to the root zone. Lawn aeration is the mechanical process of removing
cores from the lawn to allow water, air, fertilizer, seed and nutrients to
better reach the roots. This stimulates root growth, causing your lawn to be
healthier, thicker and greener throughout the growing season. Lawn aeration also
helps reduce thatch build up. The plugs will gradually break down into your lawn
leaving behind important nutrients.
Aeration tines penetrate the soil and eject cores of soil onto the turf
surface where they are utilized as a productive top-dressing. Most lawns
require semi-annual aeration. Let your lawn breathe----do what the athletic
fields do.
Can I seed
and fertilize at the same as when I aerate?
Yes. Combining aeration
with seeding and fertilization is an excellent idea. Aeration loosens up the
soil, giving new plant roots "room to grow". Over-seeding in the late
summer/early fall remains the optimum time for any over-seeding because you
avoid the summer heat and drought and the new seedlings do not have to compete
with spring germinating weeds---allowing the little seedlings to grow with the
cool temperatures and then having the winter months to allow the seedlings to
strengthen their roots and prepare for the hotter months to come. The lesser
option for over-seeding is late winter / early spring, once again to take
advantage of the cooler temperatures and moisture to allow the seedlings to take
root.
An
application of fertilizer along with the heavy watering just after
aeration and over-seeding will stimulate root growth. Spring and fall are the
most optimal time to fertilize allowing the cooler temperatures and the moisture
from the rain to penetrate the lawn over a long period of time allowing your
lawn to take full advantage of the added nutrients. Frequent light watering for
a few weeks after over-seeding will allow the seeds to develop into healthy turf
grass. Deep watering every two or three days is recommended for most of the
rest of the year allowing your lawn’s roots to grow deeper for increased
strength during dry times.
What is
power raking----Can I aerate, fertilize & over-seed at the same time?
Power raking is a great
way to remove dead debris and crust that builds up on a lawn---it is a gentle
way to remove a large amount of thatch from the lawn without causing significant
damage. On select properties we recommend power raking yearly either in the
spring or the fall as it is a great way to prepare your lawn for new growth.
When power raking is combined with aeration your lawn will receive the ultimate
in lawn renovation treatments.
What should I do as a homeowner to prepare my lawn for your service?
Do I need to water before you service my lawn
- Water heavily
the morning of the day before your lawn is scheduled for aeration. Please
water until you are able to easily push a small shovel 4” into the ground.
- Mark all
sprinkler heads.
- Mark any
shallow telephone, satellite, cable or lighting wires with marking flags.
- Invisible
fencing must be professionally marked by your fence installer. There are
sometimes “supply” lines running in places your dog’s collar will not
detect.
- Make sure a
gate is unlocked and any pets are in the house.
- Pick up all
debris such as sticks, rocks, toys etc...
Do I need to be
home at the time of service? How do I give special instructions to the tech if I
am not home? Where do I leave the payment if I am not home?
We do not
require anyone to be home at the time of service, if you have special
instructions please notify us when you sign up for service. You do not need to
leave any payment, we will bill you for all services performed.
Do I need to put my dog in the house?
We love dogs. However we wouldn't
want anything to happen to them while we are doing your service. So please keep
your dogs inside.
What should I do after you have
performed the services on my lawn?
Do I need to rake up the plugs?
How deep should I expect my plugs to be?
WATER! Especially if you had us
over-seed or fertilize. Now that you have had your deep core aeration done the
water can fill those new holes and start benefiting the roots immediately.
Frequent light watering for a few weeks after over-seeding will allow the seeds
to develop into healthy turf grass. Deep watering every two or three days is
recommended for most of the rest of the year allowing your lawn’s roots to grow
deeper for increased strength during dry times.
Please remember to water, water,
water after having your lawn over-seeded.
DO NOT
RAKE UP YOUR PLUGS!
Plug size varies from lawn to lawn.
Our machines will give you the deepest plug possible for your lawn (if you
water). If your lawn is thick and healthy, you should expect around a 3 inch
plug or more. If your lawn is very hard (clay) or unhealthy, you will see less
than that. Always remember to water HEAVILY prior to having your lawn aerated.
How often should I aerate, fertilize,
over-seed, power rake my lawn?
There really is no such thing as
aerating too much. However, we recommend aerating each fall. When combined
annually with seeding and fall fertilization your lawn will be more healthy and
ready for nest summer’s heat. For an extra thick healthy lawn, aerate again
midsummer with a nitrogen fertilizer treatment. Make sure you water heavily the
night before your aeration.
Our 4-step fertilization program supplies your lawn with the nutrients it needs
to remain healthy year round.
We recommend power raking only as needed. Our service techs are able to easily
identify lawns in need of power raking. The most optimal time is early fall
when combined with lawn aeration and over-seeding.
What time
of the day will you be here to perform the services?
Because each job
takes a different amount of time to complete and because of the possible
continuous rainy days of Missouri, it is impossible to give an precise time of
arrival. Our technicians work until dark most days.
Can I
schedule for a specific day or time?
We are not able to
schedule your property for a specific date or time when you sign up. We will
however call you 2 days prior to your aeration date to be sure you have adequate
time to fully water the lawn prior to your aeration.
What kind of fertilizer / seed do you
use?
We use a professional grade
fertilizer for all of our customers. This fertilizer is a granular time
released treatment that won’t burn your lawn. Our Lesco fertilizer is
balanced with nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium to keep your lawn healthy and
strong. Turf is a very hungry plant during its major growing seasons. Proper
fertilizing and over-seeding with balanced applications throughout the year
promotes thick, dense grass that can resist disease and weed invasions. The
type of seed used can vary depending on the property. For most properties we
use Lesco Transition Blend. Transition Blend is a blend of
several different fescue species to produce a rich green color in a very heat
and drought tolerant lawn turf.
Lawns are only as good as the seed from which they are planted.
Our professional turf blend grass
seed is a fantastic mixture of vibrant fescues intended to enhance the life,
health and appearance of your lawn. Our grass seed products are virtually weed
free, provide great coverage and contain hearty varieties that help produce the
thickest, greenest lawns in the neighborhood. We use a Lesco brand seed
that is excellent for over-seeding entire lawns in St. Louis and bringing back
those high traffic, thin areas of your lawn to the thick, plush version of
fescue that many of us have come to appreciate. We have combined everything you
need to take care of bare patches and thin spots: power raking, lawn aeration,
seeds and fertilizers. You provide the water!
How much
does aeration / power raking / fertilization / over-seeding cost?
More often than not it is more cost effective to hire someone to provide these
services that it is to do it yourself. The rental expense for aerating or power
raking equipment is often near the same cost as to have it done. Additionally
due to the large quantity of seed and fertilizer we purchase we are often able
to spread the product on your lawn for you at nearly the same cost as to
purchase the seed or fertilizer yourself.
Do you service my "hills"?
We are unable to service most "hills" do to a safety issue for our service men.
We do however service most "slopes". What is a hill vs. a slope is up to the
discretion of our tech's and their safety. Thank you for your understanding.
