An amazing lawn is something to be admired. You can’t help but pass a great lawn and stare at its thick, lush, emerald color and stand. It begs for you to sink your feet in and stay awhile.
There are many things that contribute to a beautiful lawn. Proper mowing and watering are certainly a part of it. Regular and precise fertilization and targeted weed control also helps.
But one of the secrets to getting that really desirable and fantastically healthy lawn is probably something you didn’t expect: lawn aeration, which usually comes with overseeding and topdressing.
Aeration is something you’ve likely heard of before. The service involves taking a machine called a lawn aerator and using it to make small holes in your lawn and soil by pulling small plugs from the entire yard.
This sounds so simple, you’re probably wondering what it could possibly do to help your lawn? A lot actually.
Over time, your lawn can become compacted and that compaction restricts your lawn’s ability to breathe, as well as absorb oxygen, water, and nutrients the way it needs to. As a result, your lawn becomes kind of stuck. Lawn aeration relieves this compaction, which opens your lawn up to these positive inputs and improves its root development. Roots that can reach deeper grow a healthier, thicker lawn.
You might be sold on the service and want to stop everything and call some companies today. Stop right there. Searching for lawn aeration services might bring up a whole list of companies, and you might not be able to tell one company from another.
We’re here to help! We want to arm you with some questions you can ask to ensure you can pick the best company and not just a mediocre one. After all, you want this service done right the first time so it can do for your lawn all that it promises. And there are some things that some companies do that can really differ from other businesses that perform this service. Let’s find out what those are.
Choosing a Lawn Aeration Company: 8 Questions to Ask
When you begin contacting lawn aeration services in Northern Virginia, you want to make sure you prepare to hire the right company for the job.
And asking the right questions can mean you get the right answers you need to make an informed and solid decision.
1. How Many Passes Do You Perform When Doing Aeration?
While you might not think to ask about aeration services specifically, you’re going to want to ask your potential lawn aeration services provider how they perform the service so you can better understand how they work.
Turf’s Up’s technicians always do a double-pass aeration to give our customers the best possible results. We find that a lot of aeration service providers do not perform a double-pass aeration service.
A double-pass aeration service gives you more for your money than a single pass services, and helps you lawn roots grow in the process, so it’s something you’ll want to have.
2. Should I Have Overseeding Done at the Same Time As Your Aeration?
You might be wondering if it’s important to perform aeration and overseeding at the same time or at different times.
The correct answer is you absolutely want to overseed at the same time you receive lawn aeration services.
The reason why is that when you create these open plugs in your lawn and soil from aerating, they create the perfect openings for overseeding. The seed to soil contact is maximized.
Also, since aeration is performed in fall, it’s the ideal time to seed your lawn. The air is cooler, the ground is still warm, and that increases the odds that the new grass will thrive and survive.
3. Is Topdressing an Important Service That Goes With Aeration and Overseeeding?
When you want to get the most out of aeration and overseeding, you certainly shouldn’t ignore topdressing.
Todressing is a value-added service, and it does so much more when it's paired with aeration and overseeding.
Topdressing is the addition of a thin layer of compost across your entire lawn. It falls into the holes the lawn aeration services made and mixes with your clay soil, creating a better layer of topsoil to improve your soil structure and microbial activity.
4. What Watering Practices Should I Follow After Aeration, Overseeding, and Topdressing?
Watering the lawn right after lawn aeration services is a key part of the process.
Right after the service is performed you want to keep the turf seeds moist – not overly wet. Germination of those seeds will take roughly 10 to 21 days, and having the top 1 inch of soil being moist will help encourage this growth.
To water to a moist level and not a soaking level, you must water in short bursts. This means watering 2 to 3 times per day for about 15 to 20 minutes in each location.
This is important because if you don’t keep your seeds moist you run the risk of the seeds failing to grow, wasting your overseeding investment.
5. How Much Do Lawn Aeration Services Cost?
Many people expect lawn aeration service in Northern Virginia to cost a lot, when, in fact, for everything it provides, it is pretty affordable.
Turf’s Up’s aeration services typically start at $225, which includes overseeding. (Please note that prices may increase based on sq. ftg. and also may be impacted by seed availability in certain years). Adding topdressing to boost your lawn and seeding success is an additional fee.
While you might think do-it-yourself aeration and overseeding could be cheaper, it’s a tough job that requires expensive, complicated equipment, as well as plenty of knowledge of how to do the job correctly. The professional service is a lot more reliable for the cost, and you don’t have to rent equipment, learn about lawn care, or spend your weekend getting the job done.
6. How Often Should I Aerate My Lawn?
Timing is an important part of aeration, which is why we recommend fall lawn aeration services.
When it comes to frequency, we suggest annual aeration because the clay soil in our region can become compacted quickly, so these services keep your lawn in tip-top shape and prevent compaction from decreasing your lawn’s health.
Even if your lawn looks awesome, keeping up aeration can ensure your lawn doesn’t thin out in summer. Drought and warmth can be stressful for your grass, so you will eventually see your lawn weaken without aeration.
7. What Results Can I Expect From Aeration and Overseeding?
You can expect great results from lawn aeration services. But you have to remember that your results are dependent on the quality of service you receive.
Pushing around a rented aerator once may not give you the best results. But a double-pass aeration with high-end equipment used by an experienced technician can transform your lawn, boosting its appearance and health.
8. How Can I Find the Best Lawn Aeration Service in Northern Virginia?
As you’ve learned if you’ve done a Google search seeking companies that perform lawn aeration services in Northern Virginia, then you already know there are a lot of options out there.
But you want to find the one that will give you superior results for your money – not just mediocre ones.
That’s why you want to ask the questions we’ve suggested in this blog. They will help you determine which companies will give you the best results and whether you’re going to be happy with how your lawn looks in the end.
While you’re searching, you also want to check out the companies you’re considering. Go to their websites, make sure the company you choose knows about lawn care, offers lawn care programs, and has good reviews from other customers. Check out Google reviews to consider current and previous customer thoughts about how the company performs. Make sure you not only notice the stars customers have ranked for each company you’re considering, but also the number of reviews. This shows that they continue to garner reviews and gives more credit to a higher review that is 4.5 or more because it’s harder to hold a high number with more reviews.
Choose a Lawn Aeration Company For You
Educating yourself on the service you want performed on your property is an admirable trait. We hope these questions help you figure out which lawn aeration services company would fit you best.
Aeration, overseeding, and topdressing are great services for your lawn – maybe the best ones you could opt for each year – if they are performed corectly.
If you’re going to invest in a professional lawn aeration business, and you’re still wondering which company is best for you, we’d be happy to help answer any other questions you have. And if you choose us to take care of your lawn, we would go the extra mile for you with our double-pass aeration and overseeding and topdressing additions. We’re confident we can give you the best results possible, so you can sit back and admire and enjoy your happy, healthy lawn.
Ready to learn why Turf’s Up could be your totally awesome choice for aeration, overseeding, and topdressing services in Northern Virginia? We’re stoked to learn more about you and help you have the best lawn on the block. Get started today with a free quote. Together, we can prepare a customized plan that is perfect for you and your lawn.
