Does my lawn need to be aerated?

Question

I'm in a brand new house that was initially seeded by the developer at the end of May. We are in an area with clay soil and core aeration is common. Since the grass is so new, should the lawn be aerated this fall or should we wait until next year?

In our area aeration is typically done only in the fall.

Answer 1

Light aeration shouldn't hurt - it'll be a happy medium if you are worried about damaging the new lawn. If you have a little bit of time, just use a rake and lightly perforate the soil. Do a more thorough aeration next year when your seedlings are stronger.

Answer 2

It's best to wait until the spring. Give the new seedlings a chance to get their root system established. A core aeration can stress a lawn initially, especially a new one. Doing it now isn't going to help appreciably because the grass is going to a slower rate of metabolism.

Answer 3

aeration isn't needed unless you are having problems with the lawn, such as waqter puddling or not draining into the soil.

If there is a new lawn _probably a new sod lawn_ then the installers have prepared the soil well enough for new sod, and you won't need to aerate.

Answer 4

It never hurts to aerate now, especially if the grass has patches of dead grass interspersed throughout.

Answer 5

Wait until next year. When you do, go rent one and share the expense with your neighbors. It's allot cheaper that paying someone to do it for you. You can rent one for $95 a day. All your neighbors can use it at $15 a piece. Saves allot of money. I did it and the neighbors loved it.!!!!!

Answer 6

Lawn is to new...seedlings to small. Wait until next year.