The best time to aerate your lawn in Oklahoma depends upon your grass type. Aerate warm-season grasses between late May and early July. Aerate your cool-season grass between late August and early September.
Aerating lawns gives them the oxygen, water, and nutrients they need to grow green and healthy, but timing is key. We’ll explain the best time to aerate your Oklahoma lawn and why.
Warm-season grasses: Late May to early July
Aerate your warm-season grass between late May and early July, as it actively grows as the temperature heats up. It grows faster and develops deeper, stronger roots during the spring and early summer to protect it from the sweltering heat of summer.
Don’t aerate warm-season grasses in fall or winter. They go dormant during this time, and aerating then will force them to grow when they shouldn’t. This stresses grass and makes it more susceptible to damage from insects, diseases, and weeds.
Cool-season grasses: Late August to early September
Aerate your cool-season grass between late August and early November. Your lawn is emerging from summer dormancy and is growing during this time. Aerating it makes it grow faster and makes roots stronger to survive winter.
You can also aerate cool-season grass in spring, but it’s better to aerate in fall because weeds are less likely to sprout then.
Do not aerate cool-season grasses in the summer. Just as warm-season grasses go dormant in winter, cool-season grasses go dormant in summer. Aerating them then creates stress, making grass more vulnerable to insects, weeds, and diseases.
Additional factors for timing aeration
Other factors that influence when you should aerate your lawn include:
- Soil moisture: Aerate your soil when it’s slightly wet but not water-logged. To see how much moisture it has, put a screwdriver into it. Your soil will be ready for aeration if the screwdriver goes in without much effort.
- Before overseeding: Aerating your lawn creates holes to give the seeds a place to grow.
- Every one to two years: Oklahoma has loamy and clay soil, so it needs more frequent aeration to help the soil absorb water.
More lawn care and landscaping resources for Oklahoma
Frequently asked questions
What are the benefits of aerating your lawn?
Aerating your lawn loosens soil so water, air, and nutrients can penetrate more easily to the roots.
To learn more about what aeration does for your lawn, read our article, Benefits of Aerating Your Lawn.
How do I know my lawn needs to be aerated?
Your lawn needs to be aerated if it is spongy and dries out easily or is dry and hard; if there’s a thick layer of thatch on top of your lawn; or if water puddles on your lawn after irrigation or a light rain
Learn more about aerating your lawn in our article, Why, When, and How to Aerate Your Lawn.
Hire a professional
If all this talk about aeration is making your head spin, don’t worry. Lawn Love’s lawn care professionals will aerate your lawn and perform other services to keep it green and lush.
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