Lawn Aeration And Overseeding - A Two Punch Combo For Your Lawn
Lawn aeration and overseeding are a lawn care professionals secret weapon
Aerating and overseeding your lawn is a key part of any professional lawn care program. Over a long period of time your grass can grow thick and matted near the soil and become very difficult for oxygen and other nutrients to reach the roots of your grass. This along with issues like fungus, drought stress, and foot traffic can cause problems that generally manifest themselves as an unhealthy looking lawn with brown or dead patches everywhere.
Haughey Brothers Landscaping is a landscaping contractor based out of Westfield, New Jersey and serving Union County, including: Berkeley Heights, Chatham, Cranford, Madison, Mountainside, Scotch Plains, Short Hills, Springfield, and Summit. We specialize in providing lawn aeration and over-seeding as part of our regular lawn care services or we can also provide it as a standalone service for large residential and/or commercial clients with high visibility lawns.
Lawn aerating is the process using a machine to punch hundreds of small holes into your lawn. As the machine punches the holes it also removes a small amount of grass and soil, that we call “plugs”. These holes assist the delivery of oxygen and nutrients directly to the root system of your lawn. This is also an excellent time to overseed your lawn too which encourages new grass to grow in areas that might be patchy or are dead or dying. It’s a two punch combo that can really help bring back a lawn from looking poorly cared for, to lush and healthy again.
Top Reasons To Aerate And Overseed Your Lawn
- It’s never been done on your lawn before.
- Your lawn appears patchy and brown.
- You always leave your clippings on your lawn.
- Your lawn has been scalped by mowing, leaving bare patches.
- Your lawn sees heavy foot and pet traffic.
- You just want to give your lawn it’s best chance!
As professionals, we recommend aerating your lawn at least once per year. This frequency can help counter the natural thatch and works to improve your overall soil conditions which is key to a beautiful lawn. The health of your grass is ultimately determined by the health of your soil. A properly aerated lawn will also respond much more vigorously to fertilization and regular watering too if you have an irrigation system (and you should have one for a beautiful lawn).
Does My Lawn Really Need Aeration?
The simplest answer is yes, your lawn will always benefit from being aerated at least once a year in the fall. If you are serious about the health and appearance of your lawn then aeration and over-seeding are just a normal part of a regular lawn care regime.
In order to know for sure we need to view your property to determine the overall condition of your lawn.
- Does your lawn get used frequently by your children or pets?
- Do you let your grass clippings fall back onto the lawn?
- Was your lawn just recently installed?
- Does your lawn dry out very quickly in the summer?
These are all signs your lawn could benefit from aeration. The best time to aerate your lawn is during the fall when the roots can recover quickly and the existing grass can work to fill in all of the plugs of grass/soil that will be removed during the aeration process.
What Does Lawn Aeration Do For Your Lawn?
This process delivers oxygen, water, and nutrients directly to the roots which encourages the roots to grow deeper and works to improve their uptake of nutrients and resilience to produce a more vigorous lawn. Aerating has long been a lawn care secret that golf courses and sports fields groundskeepers have employed because it really makes a difference especially when used as part of a total lawn care program. We use a special machine called a “lawn aerator” to aerate our clients lawns.
This machine was specifically designed to perforate your soil with hundreds of small holes that allow oxygen, water and nutrients to penetrate directly into your lawns root system. The “plugs” of grass that are removed by the aerator usually contain an inch or two of soil and are about 1/2″ to 3/4″ in diameter. These resulting holes are what allows the air and nutrients down into the soil and close to the root systems where they really need to be.
What Does Overseeding Do For Your Lawn?
The aeration process creates the perfect environment for planting new grass seed which is why we also recommend overseeding at this time. Lawn overseeding is the process of sprinkling new grass seed over the patchy, brown, or scalped areas of your lawn. These could be areas where the mowing deck was set too low and the grass has been scalped, crowns or high spots in your lawn, bald spots, brown patches, or areas where the grass is just really thin. Overseeding helps your lawn grow thicker in these areas.
A lawn with thick, healthy, lush growth is also great at preventing weeds from growing in your lawn too.
If you’d like to see if lawn aeration and overseeding could help make your lawn more vibrant and healthy then please give us a call (908) 265-3847 or fill out our online contact form and we’ll get back to you right away.
How Lawn Aeration Works
Healthier Roots
The aeration process loosens the soil and promotes healthy root growth by encouraging the roots to grow deeper. The result is healthier, stronger grass.
Nutrient Uptake
With a healthier root system your grass is able to uptake the nutrients in the soil much more readily. This encourages the lush, green, growth you're after.
Loosens Compacted Soil
The aeration process improves drainage and helps prevent the soil from becoming compacted and developing into a "hardpan" situation with pooling water.
Questions About Lawn Aeration?
What is lawn aeration, and why is it important for my New Jersey lawn?
Lawn aeration involves creating small holes in the soil to allow air, water, and nutrients to penetrate down to the grass roots. This process helps reduce soil compaction, which can occur from foot traffic or heavy use. Aeration is important in New Jersey due to our varying soil types and seasonal changes, promoting healthier grass growth and a more vibrant lawn.
How do I know if my lawn needs aeration?
Your lawn might need aeration if it feels spongy, you notice water pooling after rain, or it's subject to heavy use that leads to soil compaction. Lawns in New Jersey, especially those with clay soil, benefit from regular aeration to combat compaction and prepare for the intense summer and winter seasons.
What's the best time of year to aerate my lawn in New Jersey?
The ideal time for aeration in New Jersey is during the growing season when the grass can heal and fill in any open areas after soil plugs are removed. For cool-season grasses, early fall or spring is optimal, allowing the grass to peak in growth and take full advantage of aeration benefits.
Why should I consider overseeding my lawn, and when is the right time to do it?
Overseeding introduces new grass seed to fill in thin or bare spots, improving your lawn's density and color. In Connecticut, overseeding is best done in the fall, following aeration. This timing allows the new seed to establish before winter and reduces competition from weeds.
Can I aerate and overseed my lawn simultaneously?
Yes, aerating your lawn before overseeding is highly beneficial. Aeration creates openings in the soil that help grass seeds make direct contact with the soil, improving germination rates and encouraging deeper root growth. This combination is particularly effective for enhancing lawn health and resilience.
How should I prepare my lawn for aeration and overseeding?
Prepare your lawn by mowing it to a lower height and watering it a day or two before aeration. This preparation helps the aerator penetrate the soil more effectively and ensures the overseeded grass seeds have adequate moisture to germinate.
Do all lawns in New Jersey require aeration and overseeding?
While not all lawns may require annual aeration and overseeding, most can benefit from these practices every year or every other year. Factors such as soil type, lawn age, usage level, and existing lawn health determine the necessity and frequency of these services.
Our Clients Love Us!
Here's What They Say
The Haughey Brothers did a great job on our landscaping. They trimmed the out of control hedge on the side of our house and in the back yard. The edged and mulched the beds in the front of our house. Good prices and very friendly. Great to work with. I would definitely call the again.
I have always wanted the front of my home to be beautiful and inviting. When I found Haughey Brothers Landscaping they responded to me quickly and worked with me to create an amazing plan with great plant and floral recommendations. After they sent me the final mock up of the plan they came in professionally and made the front of my home absolutely stunning. It was awesome to have this team! I highly recommend.
Happy with the work done by Haughey Brothers. Lawn was aerated, seeded and top dressed. Within 3 weeks grass has filed in well. The front I just did its first cut today. Highly recommend Haughey Brothers Landscaping.
I have nothing but good things to say about Haughey brothers!! Ethan, the owner talked and was very patient with me. He walked me through the entire process of what they were going to do to my home which was alot of landscaping in the front using river rocks. His workers did a Phenomenal job, worked very hard & did a great clean up. I'm EXTREMELY happy with the outcome of my Landscaping . Thank you to all for your impeccable work ethics!!
Haughey Brothers were hired to do some landscaping work removing of large shrubs reestablishing both front and back yards. also replacing an inground pipe. There work was professional and well beyond my expectations. I shall be utilizing there services in the spring for possible outdoor shed removal and replacement. Good work.
Haughey Brothers Landscaping is simply the BEST in the business. Very pleased with the quality of work, price, and professionalism.
I highly recommend Haughey Brothers Landscaping. They do a great job with their weekly maintenance, as well as their other services including trimming of shrubs and keeping the flower beds nice and neat. They have recently completely renovated my lawn with thatching, core aeration, topsoil dressing, and seeding. Both Devin and Ethan are very professional to deal with, and their pricing is very reasonable. If you need a quality landscaper in Union county, contact Haughey Brothers.
We are pleased with the work done by Haughey Brothers Landscaping. If you are thinking about hiring a landscaper, you might want to hire them for a small job or a bigger project.
Haughey Brothers Landscaping did an excellent job with lawn and edging. We appreciated the service.
This is an amazing company from start to finish. We were having trouble finding reliable landscapers in the Chatham area. A lot of not call backs, no shows etc. Called Devin and he came by same day to give me an estimate on landscaping services. I received a quote same day and they began work two days later. Devin’s team is professional, hard working and the quality of their work is impressive. Everything is easy and hassle free when dealing with this company and their work speaks for itself. Pictures below. Couldn’t recommend this team more.
Hired Haughey Brothers Landscaping this year to do a major drainage project that would divert water accumulating at the base of the front of my house to stop basement and garage flooding that was occuring after major rain events. The project worked great and the flooding has stopped. Adding some photos that show the work being done and videos that show the water not accumulating in front of the house and one video showing the water being diverted down my driveway at the back of my house down to the street.
Highly recommend HAUGHEY brothers for landscaping projects. They did an amazing job planting trees for privacy and also cleaned up and redesigned our beds. They were great to work with and everything turned out beautiful.
Haughey Brothers recently completed extensive landscaping work on our front and side yards. They did an absolutely amazing job! The appearance of our home was totally transformed in two days! Both Devin and Ethan are honest, knowledgeable and very easy to work with. Their staff also arrived on time and were total professionals too.
I recently had a new walkway installed by Haughey Brothers Landscaping and was very pleased with the results. It was completed in one day within a week of my first contacting them. The before and after photos speak for themselves.
Haughey Brothers Landscaping did a fantastic job with our backyard patio! Their team did amazing, we are very pleased.
We are very happy with the work done by the Haughey Brothers and their crew. In addition to doing a Spring cleanup and mulching, they transformed two neglected areas of our property making them useful and beautiful. Ethan was easy to work with and had some great ideas to improve the landscaping of the property. Will definitely use them again. A couple of before and afters:
Devin and Ethan are extremely nice, punctual, and do fantastic jobs. I needed something relatively urgent done, and they were able to meet up, quote, change/revise quote for some other options, and on a short notice, they were able to accommodate a next day project done that originally was planned for at least 3-4 weeks out. I'll recommend them to anyone in the area that needs landscaping done!
Best in Union county!! Very responsive and did an amazing job on our landscaping! Will always be using them from now on!!
My husband and I highly recommend Ethan and Devin and their crew for any type of landscaping or hardscaping needs you have. I can't say enough good things about how professional, friendly, courteous and on time they always were each time they came to our home. They also left their work area very clean at the end of each day which is very important. What had started out as simply replacing a tired old swing set playground in our backyard turned into much more. They showed us previous work photos they did for fire pits with patios and we were immediately hooked. We are incredibly happy with our new backyard fire pit area and cannot wait to use it. They picked out beautiful plants and shrubs for the surrounding fire pit bed and also installed lighting into the pavers. It looks so pretty at night. They completed the job in record time too!!! We wouldn't hesitate to use them again for any other project we have. Thank you!!!!
We had been scouting for a landscaping company for quite some time and we are so glad we decided on Haughey Brothers! Devan & Ethan were very thorough, professional and all the employees were extremely kind and efficient. Great communication and never hesitated to answer any of our questions. They revamped our entire front yard along with the side of the house adding color and life back to it! Looking forward to more projects in the future!
Thank you to Ethan and his team! Our property looks the best its ever been, with new shrubs, trimming, and landscaping details. We appreciate working with you and trust your guidance for our property. Great work!!
I highly recommend Haughey Brothers Landscaping. They did an excellent job repairing our front walk, where tree roots had pushed up the paver stones; and our driveway, where a number of stones had sunk below the edge of the garage. They totally evened out both areas, and power-washed them as well. Now they look brand new! Haughey Brothers really did a great job.
I recently had the wonderful opportunity to work with Haughey brothers landscaping for the installation of my new patio, and the experience exceeded all my expectations. The owner, Devin, personally oversaw the project, bringing an unmatched level of professionalism and expertise to the table. From our first meeting, Devin impressed me with his deep knowledge and passion for landscaping. He was incredibly helpful in guiding us through the design process, ensuring that every detail was tailored to our preferences and needs. His hands-on approach and commitment to excellence were evident throughout the project. The team working under Devin was just as professional and efficient, completing the patio on schedule and to the highest quality. The final result is a breathtaking outdoor space that has become the highlight of our home. Devin’s leadership and personal involvement as the owner truly made a difference. It’s clear that he and his company Haughey brothers landscaping stand for quality, customer satisfaction, and beautiful craftsmanship. I wholeheartedly recommend them to anyone looking for top-notch landscaping services.
The Haughey Brothers were recommended to us for some backyard landscaping work. They were highly responsive in providing us with proposals and patient as we changed our plans several times. They were prompt and professional throughout the 1-day installation. The crew was highly industrious in properly preparing the area for the plants, rock landscaping and sod. Ethan and his team went above and beyond to ensure the job was successful. We will use them again next year for other yard improvements.
Ethan and Devin (the Haughey Brothers) are awesome! They are responsive, professional, reliable and do great work for a reasonable price. They are hard workers and always go above and beyond, while getting things done on time (and as promised). I recommend them for all of your landscaping needs.
We were looking for a complete overhaul of our front landscaping and walkway. I reached out to The Haughey Brothers and received a very timely response - which is rare these days as I reached out to a few different companies and received zero response from the majority of them. I submitted a request for a quote through the Haughey Brothers Landscaping website (which was very easy to use) and Ethan gave me a call that same day. We discussed what I was looking for and he actually stopped by to see the space - again, the same day - in order to provide the most accurate quote. He arrived with an idea for the space already in mind and described his plan in great detail. I could immediately tell he was someone with solid experience in this field. He measured the space and then said he would get back to me with a quote as soon as possible. I was pleasantly surprised to find that "as soon as possible" meant that very night! We worked together on revising the quote so that it met my exact needs and budget and then we were ready to get started. The Haughey Brothers team got to work very quickly. They dropped off the plants and began the job within a day or two of signing the contract. Ethan was extremely communicative throughout the entire process and I really could not be happier with how it ended up looking. I would highly recommend their services. They were a pleasure to work with and I look forward to using them again for any of my future landscaping or hardscaping needs. Thanks again to the entire team for a job very well done.
Ethan had a lot of great ideas on how to improve our landscaping. He was very thorough and patient. Work was done within needed timeline and price was good.
Shout out to Haughey Brothers Landscaping!! Not only did they do beautiful work, but they are courteous , professional, and most importantly, actually return phone calls! In fact, their communication is excellent. So glad we used them, and recommend them highly!
We were so pleased with the work done by Haughey Brothers. They planted a row of bushes that look fabulous. Ethan and Devin were responsive and professional. I highly recommend them for your landscaping needs.
Since my husband was unable to cut grass because of an injury the past two weeks, Haughey brothers landscaping responded to my message the same day and helped us out! They cut our lawn and trimmed a bush and we were saved from getting a fine from the town. Great job and so appreciated!
We have been using the landscaping services of the Haughey Brothers since they started their business. We have been very pleased with their service and would like to recommend them highly. Aside from their work, the brothers are pleasant and pleasant to deal with.
Setting up a job was simple through their online booking system. I was able to get an estimate for the work the same day. The crew that serviced my property was timely, efficient, and did a great job! Highly recommend Haughey Brothers Landscaping.
We used Haughey Landscaping and we are very pleased with the outcome. The pricing was fair and the workers were thorough. They cleaned up after themselves, which I consider a very important part of the job. The only negative is that Ethan said he would place a stepping stone in front of the shed and he did not. I reminded him twice and both times he said he forgot but would do it and he didn't. To be fair it wasn't part of the original estimate, I asked on the day the work was done. Other than that we are pleased with what was done. I changed my rating to a five star because they followed up on their promise. 👍
I couldn't maintain my front and side yard while undergoing breast cancer treatment, and Haughey Brothers Landscaping has given me such a beautiful gift back by fixing up my gardens again! Thank you! I can now sit and enjoy my gardens again! I hope next year Haughey Brothers Landscaping can help me tackle my back yard too!
I highly recommend the Haughey brothers for landscaping services. They arrived on time and completed the work as promised. They were professional and had a great work ethic. They also provided great guidance with design and overall landscaping needs. I would definitely use them again in the future.
We could not be more happy with the work the Haughey Brothers & crew did with our landscaping. We do not have a green thumb and our landscaping needed a lot of work. They gave us an estimate and started work right away. They brought a team of hard working & respectful guys who transformed our landscaping into the nicest on the block! I can't wait to use them again and again for other items we need done outside. You won't regret hiring them for your next project.
Great service! This is my second time using Haughey Brothers Landscaping and it was again a great experience with an outstanding final result. Super responsive and worked with me throughout the process to ensure the yard was exactly what I was looking for. I will use them in the future for all my landscaping needs. Highly Recommend!
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