When to Seed and Aerate Zoysia and Bermuda Lawns?

If your lawn is made up of warm-weather grasses such as Bermuda and Zoysia, you should be aware that the turf will need aeration sometime during the growing season. Aeration is essential to prevent compaction in the roots, and to allow water and nutrients to penetrate the soil more effectively. You may also choose to spread some seed over thin spots, or to overseed your whole lawn at the time of aeration. It is important to know when the right time for this maintenance. You may wonder: when should you aerate and seed Bermuda and Zoysia grasses? 

Benefits of Aeration and Seeding
When you aerate your lawn, you remove plugs of soil from the turf, leaving space for the roots and soil to relax and spread out. This prevents compaction of the roots, which is the worst thing for grass. When these plugs are removed, the water, nutrients, and seeds that are added will be able to penetrate the soil easily. This gives the roots direct access to these elements needed for growth. These practices will benefit any lawn, but it is important to consider which time of the season will yield the most benefit.

When Should You Aerate and Seed Bermuda and Zoysia Grasses?
For warm weather grasses like Bermuda and Zoysia, you want to aerate and seed anytime from late-spring to early summer. Aerating after the danger of frost will protect the exposed roots from danger, and as the seasonal growth of the grass picks up, it will make the most of its enhanced access to nutrients and water. If you choose to spread seed in thin spots or to overseed the whole lawn, directly after aerating is a great time for this. The holes in the soil will give the fresh seed a place to take hold and prevent them from being washed away. Ideally, seeding will be done after the last frost, but before the intense heat of the summer. This will give your seed the best chance of developing healthy roots.

What Not to Do
Aerating and seeding is best done while the growing season is still mild, but only in the spring. Aerating and/or seeding in the fall will expose the roots of your grasses to the elements. While a lawn that is aerated in the spring has a long growing season to bulk up and repair its root system. If a warm sesaon grass is aerated and seeded in the fall will not have ample time to root before the winter. This could result in dead patches. Seeding too late into the fall will most likely cause the germinated seed to be killed by a light frost.

​Now that you know the best time to aerate and seed Bermuda and Zoysia grasses, you may want to schedule this essential lawn maintenance. Our team can provide this service, ensuring a beautiful lawn for years to come.