Aeration Overseeding or Vertislice Overseeding: Which Lawn Treatment Works Best?

As we approach fall and the ideal time to repair or thicken your fescue lawn, a common question we get asked at Wetlands Irrigation and Turf is whether I should have my lawn vertislice overseeded or aerated and overseeded. We want you to be able to make an informed decision, so in this article, we will attempt to give you some information and guidelines to clarify the benefits of each and which is best for your lawn.

The Importance of Overseeding

The best defense against weeds is a thick, full lawn. The thicker your lawn is, the less opportunity there is for weeds to sprout and grow. Nature abhors a vacuum, so weeds will grow anywhere you have thin or bare areas in your lawn. Turf Type Tall Fescue does not spread naturally as some other grasses do; therefore, it is important to overseed somewhat regularly to replace grass plants that die off due to age, disease, insect damage, or drought. We recommend overseeding every other year for the best results.

Which Overseeding Method Do I Need?

There are two common methods for overseeding your lawn. We will briefly discuss each method and the conditions in which they should be used.

Vertislice Overseeding

This is done with a machine that has a seed box that drops the seed directly in front of tines that rotate to cut shallow grooves in the soil and mix the seed in to promote good seed-to-soil contact, which improves germination. This method is best if your lawn is very thin and/or has large bare areas, and you want to get maximum germination. It also has some benefits, smoothing the lawn as the tines gently work down high spots and fill in holes. For best results, core aerate the lawn prior to vertislicing to create air pockets in the soil and help retain moisture. The vertislicer will also break down the plugs from the aeration and mix them in with the seed.

Aeration and Overseeding

Aeration and overseeding are best if your lawn doesn't have large bare areas, but rather is just getting a bit thin in hot spots or along curbs or under trees. It also has the added benefit of core aeration, which we recommend doing once per year to open up the soil, reduce compaction from mowing and foot traffic, and increase water absorption. Aerating and Overseeding is similar to vertislicing in that the seed is dropped in front of the aeration tines and mixed in with the plugs as they are pulled. The best process is to aerate the lawn once before going over a second time, dropping the seed. This allows more seed to fall into the freshly created holes in your lawn, which also helps to maintain moisture and encourage germination.

Final Thoughts on Aeration vs. Vertislice Overseeding

If your lawn is struggling or has bare spots, Vertislice Overseeding is the ideal choice, offering high germination rates to quickly fill in thin or damaged areas. On the other hand, Aeration Overseeding is perfect for ongoing lawn maintenance, helping reduce soil compaction while replenishing grass to keep a healthy, vibrant lawn year-round.

For consistent results and a lawn that thrives all season, trust the experts at Wetlands Irrigation & Turf and explore our Aeration & Overseeding Services to schedule your treatment today.