What order should I do lawn care tasks like aeration and seeding?
Combining treatments like aerating, seeding, and adding compost requires a specific sequence, such as applying compost directly after aerating so it fills the holes. Without the right order, beginners struggle to know how to perform these steps effectively and worry their efforts will produce poor results.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1Asking for advice on online forums to verify professional recommendationsDid this help you?
- 2Trusting the professional lawn care provider's suggested orderDid this help you?
- 3Following beginner guides, consulting online forums for order of operations, and adjusting the sequence of dethatching, aerating, seeding, and fertilizing.Did this help you?
- 4Asking for advice on which action to prioritize or whether organic fertilizers can be used simultaneously with overseeding.Did this help you?
- 5Having the lawn service aerate only, then leveling the yard with top soil, and finally overseeding yourself afterwards.Did this help you?
- 6Aerating and overseeding in previous yearsDid this help you?
- 7Waiting until after the second mow to fertilizeDid this help you?
- 8Leaving the lawn alone until returning from a trip before taking further actionDid this help you?
- 9Reading online beginner guides and wikisDid this help you?
- 10Asking for advice on forumsDid this help you?
- 11Skipping pre-emergent treatments based on advice from lawn prosDid this help you?
- 12Mowing lower or scalping in the fall, aerating, and overseedingDid this help you?
- 13Applying fertilizer bags or specific products like dimension 0-0-7 based on forum adviceDid this help you?
- 14Doing quick research online for chemical combinations like 2,4-D and triclopyr or checking beginner guides.Did this help you?
- 15Asking experienced community members for advice and tracking routines manuallyDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“I heard that turf masters and lawn pros said these were waste of money but I hope it will work for my lawn. Please give me any advice to improve my lawn.”source ↗
“Is this too much for this fall, am i on the right track?”source ↗
“Several patches of creeping charlie throughout lawn, along with some crabgrass and also what I think might be quackgrass. Also, some dead grass and bare spots.”source ↗
“We had a baby this year and unfortunately my lawn got away from me. I also had a tree removed, and the machine they used to haul away the limbs caused a few ruts/bare spots.”source ↗
“It’s very late September and I know that my lawn needs desperate attention in the form of killing weeds, fertilizer/ fall treatment, and aerating and overseeding. However, I don’t know what to prioritize, how far to space certain things out, and what is it just too late for at this point.”source ↗
“Looking for advice on what to do next here.”source ↗
“Should I: -Put down another go of seed and a tiny bit of topsoil in those spots before i leave... -leave it all alone, then when i return; mow, do more seed and topsoil, and then fertilize all in one go?”source ↗
“Looking to mow, thatch, aerate, overseed and fertilize. What is the proper order to do it in and can I do it all in one day?”source ↗
“Does that sound like the correct sequence? I’m a newbie and would like your advice on the correct sequence to follow.”source ↗
“I would think that adding compost after aerating would produce better results, as there will be holes all over your lawn for the compost to fill.”source ↗
“That’s is how it makes sense to me and I ask here.”source ↗
“I’ve begun my fall yard work a little late and now I’m not sure if I will have time to do both overseeding and fall fertilizer so what would be the best course of action.”source ↗
“My question is, would it be ok to overseed before I level the yard with my top soil?”source ↗
“There are some pretty low spots that will need a good amount of dirt and I was worried that putting the soil down over my seeds might prevent them from getting enough water and growing properly.”source ↗
“My question is, what order should I do this? and if this is the correct line of thinking instead of aerate/overseed like I've done in the past?”source ↗
“I have very little knowledge of lawn care, but I know that spring and fall are big times to get busy.”source ↗
“I’ve read through the wiki, but I feel like the beginners guide is tailored to someone with a bit more knowledge.”source ↗
“I see people say do this in Fall to prevent winter weeds. I’m not sure is it correct or not.”source ↗
“And how do you remember what to put at what time and how much? I’m new to lawn care and finally decided to take it seriously.”source ↗