After Your Lawn Aeration Service
This guide covers what to do after your service to get the most benefit from your lawn aeration. For those who recieved the overseeing service, additonal instructions are outline below for you to follow.
Leave the Cores
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The soil plugs left behind are beneficial. They:
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Break down naturally within 1–3 weeks
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Return nutrients to the soil
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Improve soil structure as they dissolve
(No need to rake or remove them)
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Water Normally (or Resume Your Schedule)
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Watering is beneficial, but not mandatory
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Aeration works by opening the soil so water, air, and nutrients can move more easily into the root zone
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If you already have a normal watering routine, resume it as usual — this will improve results
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If you don’t have irrigation, limited time, or rely on rainfall:
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That’s okay — rainfall alone will still allow aeration to provide benefits
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Results may come more gradually, but aeration is still effective
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*NOTE* if overseeding was performed as part of your service, you can find special watering instructions below.
Mowing
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You may mow as usual
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Avoid bagging clippings for the first mow if possible
Fertilizer (If Included)
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If fertilizer was applied during your service:
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It is designed to feed your lawn for up to 8 weeks
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No additional fertilizer is needed during this time
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After 8 weeks, you may apply another fertilizer of your choice if desired
(Applying sooner is not recommended and can stress the lawn.)
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Overseeding After-Care (Tall Fescue Customers)
If your service included overseeding, follow these steps carefully — this is where results are won or lost.
Stay Off the Lawn
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Avoid foot traffic as much as possible until after the first 3 mows
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New grass is fragile and can be damaged easily
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Only walk on the lawn if necessary to:
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Move sprinklers
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Perform mowing
(Less traffic early helps new grass grow thicker and stronger.)
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Watering Schedule (CRITICAL)
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Before Germination (First 7–14 Days)
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The goal is to keep the top ½ inch of soil consistently moist.
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Water 3–4 times per day
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Short cycles (5–10 minutes)
Do not allow the soil surface to dry out. If it feels dry before your next watering, increase watering frequency. Georgia heat can dry soil quickly.
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Avoid puddling or runoff
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Tall fescue typically germinates in 7–14 days, depending on temperature and moisture.
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After Germination (Weeks 2–4)
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Continue daily watering
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Reduce frequency slowly:
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From 3–4x/day → 1–2x/day
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Slightly increase duration
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Goal:
Moist soil surface + damp root zone
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⚠️ In Georgia heat, many lawns need daily watering for 3–4 weeks after germination, sometimes longer.
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After Second Mow
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Transition to deeper, less frequent watering
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2–3 times per week
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Encourages deeper root growth and stronger turf
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Mowing Schedule (VERY IMPORTANT)
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First 3 Mows
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Do NOT mow until new grass reaches 3 inches
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Wait until the lawn dries before mowing and resume watering schedule immediately after
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Mow down to 2 – 2½ inches
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Never remove more than ⅓ of the grass height at once
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Sharp blades only
(This promotes tillering, which helps the grass grow thicker and fuller.)
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After the 3rd Mow
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Gradually raise mowing height to 3–4 inches
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This is the ideal height range for tall fescue long-term
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Things to Avoid 🚫
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For the first 4–6 weeks, avoid:
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Herbicides (weed killers)
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Heavy foot traffic
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Aggressive raking
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Bagging clippings
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What to Expect 🌱
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Germination may appear uneven at first — this is normal
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Thickening happens over several weeks, not days
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Cooler temperatures and patience produce the best tall fescue lawns
