Maximizing Your Lawn’s Potential – Fall is the best time for Aeration, Overseeding, and Fertilization!

Fall is in the air and it is the best time for aeration and overseeding. Whether you have already done a total kill and are planning on renovating, or you will be doing an aeration and overseed, there are several key points to remember.

Choose the best seed for your area

Cultivars are ever-changing. However, turf-type tall fescue is most popular in many of the transition zone areas. Always consider blends such as Advanced TTTF and Advanced RTF, as these are both excellent choices.  Seed-to-soil contact is imperative. If you are concentrating on bare areas, be sure to add enough topsoil or compost to lightly cover the new seed. If you are renovating, be sure not to go deeper than a quarter inch.

Always refer to the label and seeding rates

This is important to achieve the desired results. Once you start watering and seed germination, it’s vital not to stop watering. You need to keep that seed moist as it germinates and continues to grow. With the cooler temperatures, the seeds have a better chance of germinating with consistent moisture.

It is important to maintain your lawn year after year.  

Core aeration is essential to improving and maintaining the overall beauty of your lawn. It is best to pull cores of soil from the lawn to help relieve compaction. This will allow for better water absorption and use, increased airflow, improved seed, nutrient effectiveness, and overall improved root structure.

Overseeding will improve a lawn significantly

A dense lawn has a better chance of choking out weeds. Overseeding compensates for the natural slowdown of the turf’s reproduction. It helps fill in thin spots and helps the lawn stand up to tough conditions. Ultimately, it helps reduce the amount of inputs needed.

After aeration and seeding, you will want to follow up with a starter fertilizer. ATS offers a  16-28-12 and a 9-12-6, this followed by an application of Foliar-Pak Grow-In will make your lawns the envy of the neighborhood.  

Fertilizing in the fall helps grass roots grow stronger and absorb as many nutrients as they possibly can to make it through the winter. Later in the fall, but never on frozen ground, you will want to spread some slow-release granular fertilizer. Apply this fertilizer after your grass has started to go dormant so that the nutrients go toward root strength instead of top growth.  Potassium is particularly important for the lawn to improve root development. When applied to seedlings, it encourages the growth of strong extensive root systems. This is vital for the plant’s ability to absorb water and nutrients from the soil, enhancing its overall stability and resilience.  Potassium strengthens the plant cell walls, making them more resistant to disease and pests.  New seedlings are particularly vulnerable. It also helps with drought and cold tolerance. Seedlings that receive sufficient potassium are more likely to grow vigorously, produce lush foliage, and eventually develop into healthy, productive plants. 

The window of seeding will be closing soon, so let’s take advantage of these cooler evening temperatures. Remember to keep the new seedlings moist.  

Investing in overseeding can save in the long run, and the lush lawn to follow will be well worth that investment!