Core Aeration: The Key to a Healthier, Greener Lawn

If you live in Jefferson County or the greater St. Louis area, you know our clay-heavy soil brings unique lawn care challenges. Over time, that soil compacts, making it harder for water, nutrients, and air to reach your grass roots. This is where core aeration makes all the difference.

At GREENERLAWN, we believe core aeration is one of the most important steps you can take to improve your lawn. It’s the foundation for everything else — and it’s why we include it at the heart of what we do.

Why Core Aeration Is Essential

Compacted soil is one of the biggest barriers to a healthy lawn. Over time, mowing, foot traffic, and natural settling make it harder for your grass to get what it needs.

Core aeration relieves that compaction by pulling small plugs of soil out of your lawn. These holes open up the soil, giving roots room to grow and breathe again.

Revitalize Lawn Health

Aeration encourages deeper, stronger root growth — the key to a lawn that can handle both hot Missouri summers and cold winters.

Boost Nutrient Absorption

Aeration improves how water, air, and nutrients move through the soil. Fertilizers become more effective, and your lawn holds moisture better through dry spells.

Enhance Soil Structure

Missouri’s clay soil needs consistent help to stay healthy. Aeration breaks up hard layers, improves soil porosity, and makes the soil more supportive of root growth over time.

When Should You Aerate?

Fall is the ideal time to aerate. Cool-season grasses like Tall Fescue and Kentucky Bluegrass respond best when aerated in Fall. The grass is actively growing, and the weather is right for recovery and root development.

In some cases, Spring aeration is also recommended, especially for lawns needing repair, with many bare spots, or those with very compacted soil. If your lawn falls into this category, we will guide you on the right timing.

What to Expect From GREENERLAWN Core Aeration

When you schedule core aeration with GREENERLAWN, here is what happens:

• If you requested utility marking, we will confirm the markings are in place (Missouri 811).

• We will avoid steep hills or unsafe areas and notify you of any skipped zones.

• Soil plugs left behind will naturally break down and should not be removed. They return nutrients back into your lawn.

• We will provide a simple watering guide so you know exactly how to care for your lawn post-service.

Why Pair Core Aeration With Overseeding?

The best time to overseed is right after aeration. The holes created during aeration give new grass seed an ideal place to settle and germinate.

Our package, The Works, combines aeration and overseeding — the best way to thicken your lawn and improve its resilience.

When to overseed:

• Fall is ideal.

• Spring overseeding is also an option for repair or bare spot treatment — but it should be done before any fertilizers with weed preventer are applied, as these products will also block grass seed germination.

We use a premium Tall Fescue seed, selected for Missouri lawns and designed to withstand harsh winters and hot summers.

Aftercare: What You Need to Know

Proper aftercare is the most important factor in your results.

After Aeration and Overseeding

• Begin watering the same day we perform the service, assuming temperatures are above freezing.

• Keep the seedbed consistently damp for 28 days:

  • Water lightly and frequently.

  • Water each zone for 10-20 minutes every morning when temperatures are cooler.

• Avoid foot traffic on newly seeded areas.

• Do not mow until the new grass reaches about 3 inches in height.

4 Weeks After Service

• Return to a regular watering schedule:

  • Water 2-3 times per week.

  • Apply 1-2 inches of water weekly, depending on your soil type:

    • Clay soils: closer to 1 inch.

    • Sandy soils: closer to 2 inches.

  • The best time to water is in the morning.

When to Expect Results

• New grass sprouts generally appear within 7 to 21 days, but results vary based on weather and soil health.

• There is no guaranteed timeframe for germination. Results depend on how well the lawn is cared for after service.

Why Choose GREENERLAWN?

We focus on the services that bring the most value to your lawn:

• Core Aeration

• Overseeding

• Bare Spot Repair

We are a local business that understands Missouri lawns and provides straightforward and honest services.