Why Aeration and Overseeding Are A Must In The Fall

It’s hard to imagine but before you know it summer will be gone and the leaves will start to fall.  All those water fights and baseball practices in the back yard were fun but they also caused a lot of wear and tear to your yards grass and soil.

 

We often don’t think about “wear and tear” on our lawns but the fact is all those summer activities have compacted your soil torn some of your weakened grass’s roots from the soil.  As fall approaches, the warmer days and cooler nights provide just enough moisture in the ground that make it optimal for you to help your lawn heal itself.

Aeration

Aeration is important because it de-compacts the soil.  Putting all those little holes in the ground allows air, water and food to reach the roots and allows the roots to grow deeper into the soil.  Furthermore, aeration makes the lawn less susceptible weeds, insects, drought and disease.

Overseeding

Overseeding is important because your lawn is not invincible!  Overtime, individual blades of grass grow weaker and eventually die off.  Overseeding promotes the growth of new blades of grass and helps your lawn maintain its fullness and thickness year after year.  A fuller and thicker lawn also helps keep unwanted weeds from popping up in your lawn come spring.

Aerating and Overseeding?

Yes, aerating and overseeding go hand in hand.  Aeration punches the holes in the ground so the overseed can penetrate deep into the soil and grow deep healthy roots.  You should aerate your lawn every fall and overseed at least once every three years to keep your lawn healthy.

If your lawn is starting to look bare, ask yourself, when was the last time I had my lawn aerated and overseeded?  If it has been over that 3 year mark, you really should consider getting done this fall.  That is, if you want a healthy lawn come next spring.

At Peter Doran Lawn and Landscaping, when the leaves start to fall the phones start to ring.  Ensure you get on our schedule early enough by giving us a call now at (763) 315-0052 or fill out our online free estimate form.

Why Gutter Cleaning Is Important

When it comes to the maintenance of the outside of your home, you should not overlook how important clean gutters are.  So many issues can arise from clogged gutters that could cost you tens of thousands of dollars in repairs.

Leaking Roof

One of the dangers of clogged gutters is a leaky roof.  When water stays in the gutter too long, it can cause rust and the gutters themselves can slowly start to pull away from the home.  This allows cracks to start to form and pockets where water can leak into the structure of the home and begin to rot away wood.

Flooded Basement

Another danger of clogged gutters is a flooded basement.  When water on your roof does not flow through your downspouts and away from the home, it can collect around the foundation of your home.  When this happens, water can soften the soil around your home causing the foundation to shift.  When this happens, cracks can slowly start to form in your foundation and water can begin to seep in and flood your basement.

Harboring Insects

The last danger of clogged gutters we are going to discuss is the harboring of insects and rodents.  When your gutter is blocked and water sits for a long time, it provides shelter for mosquitos, cockroaches, flies, molds and other disease carrying insects.  Harboring these insects can pass disease and other dangers along to your family.

How Often Should Gutters Be Cleaned?

At minimum, your gutters should be cleaned early in the spring and late in the fall.   These cleanings will ensure your gutters don’t backup from debris falling in the winter and your gutters wont freeze with water in the winter.  We also recommend having your gutters cleaned after a big storm that may have blown leaves, twigs, branches and other debris around that can collect in your gutters.

Are Gutter Covers A Solution?

Gutter covers do help keep debris out of your gutters.  However, debris can still get through the gutter covers and cause backups.  If you have gutter covers, we still recommend having your gutters checked every spring and fall to make sure debris has not collected in them.