It takes more than weekly mowing to keep a Smithfield lawn in good condition. Keeping your rental property’s lawn neat and green requires, as you probably already know, seasonal maintenance. The two most crucial lawn maintenance tasks for the fall are overseeding and aerating your lawn. Shocked? Continue reading to discover why autumn is the best time to prepare your grass for a healthy growing season!
Why Not Spring?
The general consensus when it comes to lawn maintenance is that there isn’t much to do until spring. However, waiting until spring to get your lawn ready for the growing season could be detrimental. In the spring, the soil is frequently frigid and teeming with weed seeds that have gone dormant. This soil might become even weedier after aeration, which can smother newly emerged grasses. In addition, if the summer heat hits too early, it might harm immature grass plants that have not yet developed strong roots.
Why Fall is Best
The fall season, however, means warmer soil and a lot less weed seeds. Annual weeds, if any, are normally dying at this time of year, leaving your young grass with minimal competition. In these conditions, aerating is most effective since it can be done without promoting further weed growth. Additionally, it enables freshly overseeded grasses to develop deep roots before the arrival of the colder winter months.
Won’t Cold Temperature Kill the Grass?
Many homeowners stress about how cold or freezing conditions may affect their brand-new lawns. You shouldn’t worry, though! Before the arrival of winter, overseeding in the fall enables the grass to grow robust roots. The fresh grass will be able to withstand the winter and resume growing in the spring.
The Benefits of Aeration
If you’re unsure that aerating your rental property’s lawn is worth the time and expense, the answer is, without a doubt, yes! By lowering compaction and making it easier for water, air, and nutrients to reach the root zone, aeration contributes to the improvement of soil health. This can result in more robust and healthy turf growth. It also promotes a stronger root system, reduces thatch buildup, and improves drainage.
Aerating can also make overseeding and seeding grass much more effective. This will happen because the holes created by aeration allow the new grass seeds to come into contact with soil and produce roots more easily. The outcome is a lusher and thicker yard that any Smithfield property manager would be proud of.
Pro Tips to Aerate and Overseed a Healthy Lawn
You can use a hand or mechanical aerator from your local hardware store to aerate the lawn of your rental property. Both kinds of aerators will extract soil plugs from the lawn. However, even when using a motorized aerator, the process can still be laborious and physically taxing. Because of this, many people decide to hire a specialist to complete this task.
As you aerate, cover the entire lawn with multiple passes in varying directions to ensure uniform coverage. The lawn will be completely aerated and prepared for seeding as a result.
Select a grass seed mixture appropriate for your climate and lawn’s needs when seeding or overseeding your lawn. Before purchasing a lawnmower, you might want to speak with a lawn care expert because the type of grass you select is very important. Distribute the seed evenly across the lawn, and make sure to water frequently to keep the soil damp so that seedlings can emerge.
You can prepare your lawn for a lush and healthy growing season the following year by taking care of it in the fall. Furthermore, a healthy lawn is the single best thing for luring tenants and sustaining high property values. Consider hiring professionals to take care of your lawn if it’s not exactly at the top of your list of property maintenance tasks.
At Real Property Management Dominion, we offer comprehensive property maintenance services that can keep all parts of your investment property looking great. Contact us online today to learn more.
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