AERATION & OVERSEEDING
Before & After Care Guide

Aeration and overseeding is one of the best ways to improve the density, health and appearance of your lawn. The work we perform is only part of the process, the care your lawn receives afterward is just as important.

Please review the information below before and after your service. Following these recommendations will give your new seed the best opportunity to germinate and establish successfully.

BEFORE YOUR SERVICE
WHAT DO I NEED TO DO BEFORE SERVICE?

The most important thing is making sure we have clear access to the areas being treated.

Please remove toys, hoses, lawn furniture, decorations, pet items and other objects that may interfere with our equipment.

DO I NEED TO MARK SPRINKLER HEADS OR OTHER ITEMS?

YES!

Please clearly mark any items that may be hidden in the lawn or difficult for our technicians to see, including:
Sprinkler headsInvisible/electric dog fencesLow-voltage lightingIrrigation linesDrainage systemsInvisible pet containment systemsOther underground or surface-level itemsWe cannot be responsible for damage to unmarked sprinkler heads, irrigation systems, invisible fences, lighting, underground lines or other items that are not clearly marked before service.

If you have an underground system or item that you are unsure about, please mark its location before our crew arrives.

WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER YOUR SERVICE
MY LAWN LOOKS ROUGH. IS THAT NORMAL?

Absolutely!

Aeration and overseeding is not designed to leave your lawn looking perfectly manicured immediately after service. You may notice small soil plugs throughout the lawn, seed visible on the soil surface, areas of disturbed soil, tire or equipment marks, slightly rough or uneven areas. These are normal parts of the process and are necessary to create better seed-to-soil contact.

Don’t rake or clean up the lawn after service. Let the process work.

AFTER YOUR SERVICE
WATERING IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART!

Once your service is completed, your new seed needs consistent moisture to germinate.

The goal is to keep the seedbed evenly moist, not saturated and not allowed to dry out.

Water lightly and frequently enough to keep the soil surface from drying out. Watering in the early morning or evening is ideal. 

Continue this consistent watering until the new grass has germinated and begun establishing.  That means watering every day for 14-21 days. 

Do not rely on a specific number of minutes or hours. Every irrigation system and lawn is different. The amount of water needed depends on your soil, weather, irrigation coverage and exposure to sun.

Once the new grass is established, gradually transition back to your normal watering routine.

IMPORTANT: If the seed dries out during the germination process, it can significantly reduce germination.

SHOULD I PICK UP THE SOIL PLUGS?

No! Leave them where they are.

After core aeration, you’ll see small soil plugs scattered throughout your lawn. These are a normal and beneficial part of the process.

The plugs will naturally break apart through rainfall, watering and mowing, returning soil and organic matter back into the lawn.

There is no need to rake or remove them.

CAN I WALK ON THE LAWN AFTER AERATION & OVERSEEDING?

Try to keep foot traffic to a minimum.

Newly seeded areas are vulnerable while the seed is germinating and establishing. Excessive traffic can disturb the seed, compact the soil and damage young seedlings.

Keep unnecessary foot traffic off the lawn for at least two weeks.

Avoid heavy recreation, repeated walking and other unnecessary activity until the new grass has become established.

Pets can also cause significant damage to newly seeded areas, so please limit their activity whenever possible.

WHEN CAN I MOW?

Your existing grass may continue to grow after your service, but the new seedlings are very tender.

Ideally, wait until the new grass has germinated and established enough to tolerate mowing. When you do mow,
Use a sharp mower blade, mow when the lawn is relatively dry, keep your mower on a high setting—approximately 3½–4 inches, avoid turning sharply or making repeated passes over newly seeded areas and leave the grass clippings on the lawn whenever possible. Also, do not scalp the lawn, keeping the grass taller helps protect developing seedlings and encourages stronger root development.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR THE GRASS TO GROW?

Germination time depends heavily on weather, soil temperature, moisture and the type of grass seed.

Under favorable conditions, you may begin seeing new grass in approximately 10–14 days. As temperatures cool, germination can take 14–28 days or longer.

Different seed varieties germinate at different rates, so don’t be concerned if some areas begin filling in before others.

Patience is important! Overseeding is a process, not an overnight transformation. The grass will continue to grow next spring as well.

WHEN WILL I SEE THE FULL RESULTS?

Your lawn will continue to thicken and mature after germination. The first few weeks are focused on getting the seed to germinate and establish roots, but the full results of your overseeding will not be visible immediately.

Your lawn will continue to develop throughout the fall as the new grass establishes and strengthens its root system. As winter arrives, the lawn will naturally enter dormancy and growth will slow or stop. This is completely normal and does not mean the new grass has failed.

When temperatures warm back up in the spring, your lawn will come out of dormancy and the new grass will resume active growth. This is when you will begin to see the true results of your fall aeration and overseeding.

Think of it as a process:

FALL → Germination & Establishment → WINTER → Dormancy → SPRING → New Growth & Final Results

Weather, soil conditions, moisture, sunlight and existing lawn conditions can all affect how quickly your lawn develops.

Be patient! A successful fall overseeding is an investment that continues working through the fall and winter, with the best results becoming evident as your lawn comes back to life in the spring.

THE BOTTOM LINE
WATER • STAY OFF • BE PATIENT

The three most important things you can do after your aeration and overseeding service are:

1. WATER
   Keep the seedbed consistently moist during germination.
2. STAY OFF THE LAWN
   Limit foot and pet traffic while the new grass is germinating and establishing.
3. BE PATIENT
   New grass doesn’t appear overnight. Weather, soil conditions and seed varieties all affect germination time.

Aeration and overseeding gives your lawn the opportunity to become thicker, healthier and more resilient—but proper aftercare is what helps turn that opportunity into results.