Aeration and overseeding, explained without the jargon

If your lawn feels hard underfoot or thins out every August, compacted soil is usually the culprit.

What aeration does

A core aerator pulls small plugs of soil out of the ground. Those openings let water, air and fertilizer reach the roots instead of running off the surface. Leave the plugs where they fall; they break down in a week or two.

Why pair it with seed

Right after aeration is the best seed-to-soil contact your lawn will get all year. Overseeding into fresh holes gives new grass a protected place to establish.

Best timing in Rochester

Late August through late September. Soil is warm, nights are cooler and weeds are slowing down.

Realistic expectations

You will see thin germination in two to three weeks and real thickening the following spring. One aeration will not fix a lawn that is starving; pair it with fertilization for a visible difference.