Lawn Question

[BleedingBlue]

I over seeded my front yard 3 weeks ago tomorrow and there has been significant germination from what I can tell...my grass is fairly thick though. I did not aerate prior to seeding, but I am having my backyard aerated this weekend (guy is doing the majority of my neighborhood for cheap)

My question is this: Is is too soon to aerate the front? I would like to get it done, but don't want to have wasted the over seeding.

If I do get it aerated, should I mow first? I haven't mowed since seeding and it is getting pretty long.....thanks!


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[jkwilson]

I don't think I'd touch it. Fairly late in the season, and aerating is a little hard on the lawn. I don't know that I'd bother aerating the back yard now either. IMO it's much more beneficial in the spring.

 

[gungatim]

I would think that in 3 weeks the roots of the new grass are not deep enough to get any benefit of aeration, and may even get destroyed in the process. so I would skip it.

 

[Kevin54]

Forget the aeration for this year until the grass gets good and established. I would let the new grass go for at least a year, if not wait until the next Spring afterwards.

 

[chruler]

Agreed. Wait til spring. Probably do more damage than good seeing as how you just seeded.

 

[Shiftless]

it's unanimous!
Experts advise not even walking on a newly seeded lawn until it has been mowed maybe 3 times. And that's WALKING! not running a heavy wheel driven machine cutting holes!
Be patient....

 

[BleedingBlue]

That is what I was thinking, but hoping GJ disagreed....thanks everyone!

How long do I need do I need to wait before mowing?

 

[CNGsaves]

Unanimous +1 !!!!!

Leave your newly seeded lawn be . . . only mow when tall (bag it). Do NOT walk on, let dog piss/**** on it, etc. Keep all the Halloween trick-or-treaters off the new lawn as well.

 

[pepi]

I over seeded my front yard 3 weeks ago tomorrow and there has been significant germination from what I can tell...my grass is fairly thick though. I did not aerate prior to seeding, but I am having my backyard aerated this weekend (guy is doing the majority of my neighborhood for cheap)

My question is this: Is is too soon to aerate the front? I would like to get it done, but don't want to have wasted the over seeding.

If I do get it aerated, should I mow first? I haven't mowed since seeding and it is getting pretty long.....thanks!


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You have it backwards, aerate before overseeding.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

Most of the grass that you see now is the annual rye that gets mixed in with the "good" seed (check the bag). It germinates quickly and protects the other grasses that are just starting to grow.
It would have been best to prepare the soil before you planted. Now just water and wait.

 

[JimR1998]

You really have to look at seed labels before buying. Often times you'll end up with 50% annual ryegrass (quick green but does not come back next season) plus 10% inert stuff to keep the seed moist, so that leaves about 8lb of seed in a 20lb bag.

Put down a few bags of Milorganite and you'll get better results than aeration, and have green left in your pocket.

 

[theoldwizard1]

IMHO, aeration is highly over rated !

For a great looking lawn (in the Midwest/NE), use 19-19-19 "farm" fertilizer in late fall. After Oct 1 but before the first hard freeze. Repeat in late winter/spring (after daytime temps are in the 50s, but before they are regularly in the 70s).

The only place you will find this is at a "feed store".