Should I water?
We will provide detailed watering instructions along with the service if you choose to water. However, in general, watering for short periods of time keeps the seed damp throughout the day. Sunny days may require enhanced frequency vs. overcast days.
Should I mow before the service? How soon can I mow after?
It is recommended to cut your grass to your normal height before the service. It is also recommended that you delay mowing for as long as it is tolerable, without excessive growth, after giving the seed time to settle into the canopy and the existing turf. Note, mowing before the service is not necessary, but can increase the need to mow sooner after the service rather than later.
How much seed is used during the service?
Per the Turf Type Tall Fescue (TTTF) label, 4lbs/1000ft2
Do I need to put more seed out afterwards?
It is typically not needed, however, if we experience an extended dry period afterward you may want to apply some more seed to larger, bare areas to aid in the healing process.
How quickly should I see results verifying the aeration and overseeding is working?
Results will vary depending on the weather. TTTF will geminate within 5-10 days with adequate moisture, however, it will not mature (spread) until the following year. Until that time, new germination is very sensitive to stressful conditions.
Do you guarantee your results from A/O?
Our work is guaranteed… complete and thorough aeration and overseeding throughout the lawn. It is up to Mother Nature and/or the Homeowner to nurture the seed and see the process through.
Will you guys come back out to redo this in the spring if we do not see results?
Full results will not be seen until mid-spring (Mid-May) any additional renovation work until the turf matures will interfere and be counter productive for the process. Depending on the current lawn conditions, multiple years of service may be needed to see the results you desire.
It does not look like rain is coming anytime soon, is it still okay to do this?
Aeration will open the surface of the soil, allowing absorption of rainfall, rewetting the soil faster. The seed will lie is dormancy, the same as it does in the bag, waiting for moisture. If we miss this opportunity, it may not come again until it is too late.
It’s only been 5 days since my last application is this safe to do aeration and overseeding this soon after?
Yes, herbicides have adhesives to keep them in place once dry and a short half-life, so they will be degraded by the time seed germinates.
My seed germinated, then suddenly died. What happened?
Typically, if seed dies after it germinates, it most likely dried out due to lack of moisture. Seedling roots are shallow, new germination cannot tolerate dry conditions for extended periods of time. However, too much water can also cause fungus and kill the seedling as well. Follow the watering instructions, if needed, to avoid extremes.
What do we do with all the plugs?
The plugs will break down with mowing, traffic, rainfall, etc. and deposit over the surface, diluting the thatch layer and promoting microbiological activity.
How many directions are you guys going? Why just a single direction and an overlap? Doesn’t it seem like you guys really are punching that many holes?
We will overlap each pass 1/2, so every area is done 2 times. The technicians will travel in the safest, most efficient direction possible. Since the holes from one pass to the next are completely random, going over in a different direction will not yield better or different results. The goal is safety to both your property and the technicians.
How about my edges by my sidewalk, driveway, house and beds, how will you do them?
Edges, as needed, will be done by hand to ensure that surfaces stay safe.
I have done this for the past few years, and my lawn hasn’t improved, can you make sure this time it works?
Aeration and overseeding is a tool, but not the only one, if conditions have not improved, please talk with your turf consultant about additional steps to be taken. Other issues may exist, and we can help with a constructive dialog.
How are you going to avoid getting seeds in my garden beds?
Our machines drop seed straight down within the width of the aerator for a one step process. However, if the need arises that seed must be spread in a second step, a drop spreader is used around the gardens to ensure seed does not get in the mulched areas.
The technician(s) were not on my property very long. Is the job thorough?
Our technician(s) are efficient due to the utilization of highly specialized aeration / overseeding equipment. Seed boxes automatically drop seed per calibration rates and hydraulic tine pressure are some advantages of utilizing our professional services. If you feel your technician was not thorough, we can follow up to inspect the work and we will guarantee the service is complete and thorough.
I still have a lot of weeds present how are you going treat for them next time after seeding?
We allow enough time to pass before doing the next service; however, the following service is a spot weed control, so care and caution is taken. In the rare case the weeds are too numerous, we may need to ask the customer to be patient and trust the process, not everything can be done simultaneously. It is a step-by-step process. Rushing may delay the goal of a nice lawn.
Will you reseed my lawn if it washes away from a storm?
We will be happy to provide you with some additional seeds, if requested. However, a storm may also help push the seed into the turf canopy, soil or into an aeration hole.
Do you use hay or straw to cover grass seed?
We will use straw, not hay, in areas that may require additional help such as larger bare areas to help hold additional moisture. However, if your lawn has extensive damage, you may need additional services and/or multiple years of service to achieve desired results.
I have an invisible dog fence how are you going to aerate where the line runs?
The lines will need to be clearly marked either by you or a qualified professional before we begin. We are happy to provide the name of a vendor that will do this correctly, quickly, and affordably. The marked lines will be gone over with a garden weasel and manually seeded as needed. The aeration machine will not go over the lines directly and will stay 1 to 2 feet from the marked lines.
I want to have my aeration and overseeding done on a specific day at a specific time; can you accommodate that?
We do our best to accommodate all our customers, days are more accommodating than specific times, although neither can be guaranteed, due to logistical issues with routing and equipment.
Please don’t send same tech that you had last year—they did not do a good job.
We will do our best to send a different Technician but that cannot be guaranteed for logistical reasons. We will do our best to improve and educate our technicians to correct any issues that arise. If the job is not completed properly, we will correct the issue.