Should You Aerate Your lawn? 

I think the chief goal of aeration is to soften the soil at and beneath the root zone, secondary goal to oxygenate the soil in root zone, tertiary goal to help hard fall rains to soak in without running off with so much of our seed. Pete, as you have demonstrated, your yard's soil is so soft and to such deep levels that you really may not need aeration for the top two goals.

Next thing you know Pete's going to be reel mowing at 1/2".😀 Love to see you're always learning.

Pete, the myths about weeds after aeration on yearly basis I believe is all talk. I have been doing aeration yearly for many years. I believe good weed control at proper time is the key to success.

Thank you for saying you don't need to aerate every year. I see too many people think the only way to get a better lawn is to aerate, over seed and de-thatch every year. I do none of that and my lawn is typically better than those that do. I find it's more about feeding the lawn with proper nutrients and water. Also mowing at a good height (not too low). It's difficult to find honesty as to whether or not you need certain services when you're asking the person who'll be supplying those service. Of course you do! Doesn't matter what's being sold.

I think this test should be done on TTTF that hasn’t been aerated and over seeded for many years.

My entire life is a series of Guinea pigging. .I love it! It's the only way to properly investigate. It's pure science (observation). Awesome! Can't wait to see the results.

I've got a mix of KBG and whatever else out here in the MIdwest, but man, that TTTF is gorgeous.

Hey Pete was there a follow up to this video? I have a TTTF lawn that looks pretty thick and doesn't really have any weeds at all. I'm on the fence about aerating and overseeding again this year so I wanted to see how you thought not aerating and overseeding your lawn turned out. God Bless!

Went back and forth a bunch about doing it. Decided to go for it to introduce newer varieties of KBG. More disease resistant types, or so they say.... We shall see

Looking forward to the results. I’ve got a poa problem in my yard, I’m doing a fall pre emergent this year rather than over seeding, so I’m in the same boat as you. Not sure how it’s going to turn out. I feel like the days of being able to seed ever without tenacity are over. Once you’ve got poa seeds in your dirt they can live up to 40 years.

Nice thick green lawn Pete 😎

Awesome video. I’m actually doing a little testing myself aeration/ no aeration. Granular/ liquid. Then I’ve got 12 other lawns that I do aeration and seeding on!

Had Midnight Bluegrass germinate in the last 7 days, Eastern shore of Virginia. Also seeding gci turf seed next weekend.

Pete. Thanks for the video. I've been on the fence about core aeration and over seeding this year. Due to some weeds I'd to take care of this fall. Thinking of the same guidelines as you in splitting up my yard into a couple sections. My thin areas getting seed and pre-emergents for dense areas. Really like the fact KBG can spread and fill in, unlike TTTF. Decisions, decisions! Looking forward to your update to this topic. Thanks for the insight.

Funny that this video came out. I decided to not aerate this year because after research I felt it wasn’t necessary. Since I have a sandy Loam soil, compaction is not an issue for me. I am not over seeding as well as I witnessed this year how my chewed up front lawn from the dog filled in beautifully on its own. This way I can put a pre-emergent down to prevent the small areas where I get POA Annua.

being from the south and doing enough reel mows to know, I think youll end up liking the look and feel of it better than TTTF. just my .02 cents.

Good points here. Many factors and conditions dertimine many prcesses and how aggressive to be.

Another GREAT video Pete. Got my GCI Turf Type Tall Fescue seed yesterday and can’t wait to get down. I have been mowing at 4 1/2”. My question is...How low should I mow before aerating and seeding.

Aeration & overseeding is a must on 90% of yards. I’ve been doing forever. The house that don’t do it, you will see the differences from the ones that do.

I don’t like kbg in the transition zone. Especially when you don’t have irrigation. It just doesn’t handle the heat well and pythium can knock it dead before you even do a fungicide app. Tttf can handle the heat as long as you mow tall. That’s another reason why I don’t like kbg. It can’t handle traffic in the heat. Tttf as long as its mowed tall can handle the traffic of pets and humans. I love your tttf Pete. Even on the video, you can hear you walking in it! It has a distinct sound, almost like you’re on safari in Africa, LoL!!

Secondary to the testing, I wondering if including a cost analysis of aeration vs pre emergent. Of course I'm going to have to rent or subcontract the aeration but you have tweaked my interest. "Once I get my soil right."

If you mix your TTTF with midnight what height would you cut since KBG likes a short cut?

I live in Charlotte and tired of drought every year. Should I incorporate Midnight Bluegrass or does your seed include that? And do I have to arrange or slit to do that for this area?

Hey Pete - really enjoying your videos! Question for you...I aerated in the fall and wanted to topdress and overseed to thicken up my lawn this spring (I have a patchy lawn that came with my new construction). Would you recommend aerating again before the topdressing/overseed?

Great video, look forward to see the results, I got a bag of the gci blend and I am mixing some midnight in there. But now I am thinking of doing a full renovation, have to see if there is still time being in nj

Hey Pete this is awesome! I thought you were planning on telling us about your Air-8 vs core aeration assessment? I thought you were planning on giving the results of utilizing Air-8 as the standard aeration strategy before aeration season starts this year? Thanks so much!!

I've just sowed some fine creeping red fescue in hoping it will self repair it is meant to spread via rhizomes. I will let you know how it goes

Pete, any comments on aerovator vs core aeration? Working to get a Ventrac and was considering the Aerovator with seedbox as replacement core aeration. Thank you for all you do for both the lawn community as well as charity work!!

Pete, I live in Iowa, and I have NEVER aerated my yard that I have owned sense 05. Should I aerate? I also want to level, and over seed my yard.

When are you going to be releasing your KBG blend? Very interested in adding that to my TTTF that I planted last fall but isn’t super dense. Would like to oversee with KBG to get some of that self healing action going on.

If its thick enough, don't over-seed it, but there are still benefits from aeration. Especially if you follow up with your fall feeding to facilitate water and nutrients to the root zone.

What happened in those rather large circles where you had no grass? I actually find some comfort (for lack of a better word) that the pros have some problem areas like that. Just wondering what caused them.

Great video...I wonder though to see the real difference, if you will need more then one season

What were the results of this experiment? Is aerating every year no longer necessary for Fescue grass?

another great video Pete. I believe John Perry thinks weeds invade if your soil is out of balance. obviously your soil is right

Hey Pete I just ordered a couple bags of carbon x! So excited to put it down when it gets here!

Thank you Pete for continuing to deliver relevant and great content. How far south can KBG work? Looking at a renovation in Pensacola Florida and undecided on species of grass. Have centipede now around the house and natural Bahia (which I am going to kill off). Really want an awesome turf.

Is there a follow up to this video?

I have a strong feeling a pre emergent starting with the letter G is going to be put down. If so I just don’t think you can go wrong!

So Pete is mowing his lawn with a mix of KBG at 4.5" but the KBG plot at 2". Any averse effects at mowing 100% KBG at 4.5"?

This video took alot of courage to make bro🙌I feel your pain.. i feel your pain🤣

Pete, In the peak of the summer heat, how many inches per week of water did it take to keep the Bermuda going well? You have the well so you are not limited, but those of us on public water have a different set of $$ limitations. I just above you in Richmond, so in about the same climate.

Hey Pete I love your channel lots of learning! I have one question, I need to get a soccer field “up to standards” and the Feild already has grass but you can tell previous workers didn’t level the Feild. What would you recommend to even put a Feild with grass on it already?

Pete what's the name of the PRE M for that specific area your talking about rather than TENACITY please let us know back

what about warm season turf??? I've heard 2 times a year. spring and fall Aerate

Damn Pete ... why did you have to say that lol. Today at work I was looking at the weather forecast for this week and BAM💥... rain day on Thursday, I am off Friday. Perfect timing for doing a core aeration and fall seeding ... right ? Now what ... 😂😂😂. JUST TEASING YOU BTW !!!

I've read 2 different 'opinions' that TTTF can spread like KBG. Some say yes, some say not really. Pete, are there varities of TTTF that creep and fill in like KBG?

Hey Pete. Great video as always. I’m wondering. Can I use N-ext Air8 instead of mechanical aeration before overseeding? Will that work as well?

Whoah! Didn’t expect this!

Pete, have you ever seeded with Scotts Heat Tolerant BG?

I alway thought reason to aeration only when u have a compaction problem and if you don’t there is no reason to do an aeration on is that true ?

Can anyone help me with this question-how soon after aerating and re-seeding with KBG can I apply the bio-stimulants?

Do you have an aerator for sale?

Hey Pete, I just had my aeration and overseeding last week on my tall fescue and come to find out that they put down KBG by mistake. What should I do?

Can I stick to the guide for fall fert if not overseeding ?

Hay pete I want to overseed but I have a lot weeds this season what you recommended for preemergent

What brand of midnight do you prefer Pete? Want to mix some in with my TTTF this year. Thanks👍🏻

The gophers and moles do all my aeration for me. Lol!

Hey Pete how low should I mow my gci turf type tall fescue before overseeing ?

I cut my grass at 4 inches I'm going to over seed should I cut it lower before I seed

What height are you mowing the Kentucky bluegrass?

So when will XStart be available on the website?

If your new seed blend has KBG in it is this possible that you end up with a KBG yard.

Do you pennant magnum?

Better then tenacity?? Like what would that be?

Science!!

Will that bluegrass stripe as well?

Nice job Pete. I’m still going to aerate and overseed this year. Until I’m fully satisfied with the turf thickness. Your TTTF in the back will probably only need one more overseeding because it’s already super thick from last year. Waiting on your new blend next week 🙂

Just got my GCI fescue and I can't wait to get it growing. This lawn game is a killer on my patience. I have to look to delayed gratification for this stuff to work right. I am going to TRY to match your turf buddy. I am such an amateur when it comes to lawn care but I shoot for the moon when I start something. You got me going on this along with all you pal on youtube. You remind me of a guy in Louisiana when I was stationed there. You are a down to earth guy and I love the way you break things down. Love your yard by the way. Keep up the good work and keep on teachin. You have a bunch of willing students here soaking it all up like fertilizer. I'm up here in Northern California where it's pegged at 95 to 100+ almost every day in the summer. Thanks again for all your info and hard work. God Bless

Obviously you're going to core aerate and seed the side facing the road. That's telling.

Time for you to have a big yard sale

Blessed morning

I feel like if you have a turf that is already fully filled in you do not need to overseed. Just wasting money.

Your learning now. 😂.

HHHHWWWHHHIIITE great video! new sub

Looks good, but I feel the fescue is too long!

Dam trees all drunk cuz the lawn is fukt up Ratts b lurking and the Asians ate the dogs Who the hell fukt up the grass and had all them mice eating Kentucky blue cheese