Get matched with top lawn irrigation specialists in Lakota, ND

Aerate during the growing season, typically in spring or fall, when grass can quickly recover.

Short answer: yes. Although aeration is beneficial for most lawns and soil types, if it’s done too frequently, you can weaken the grass’s roots so much that they’ll begin to have trouble. Generally, most lawns can be aerated as infrequently as once every one to three years, although those with more foot traffic and compaction may benefit from aeration up to twice yearly.

Buffalo grass starts to turn brown when encountering drought during the normal growing season. You can water the grass when you begin to notice some browning to prevent it from going dormant. Additionally, buffalo grass turns brown after the first freeze of late autumn or early winter, and this is a natural time for the grass to go dormant.

The screwdriver test involves trying to push a screwdriver into your lawn. If it goes in easily, you’re likely overwatering and should cut back. If there’s moderate resistance, you have a good watering schedule and soil composition. If there’s a lot of resistance or you can’t get the screwdriver into the soil, you may need to aerate your lawn to reduce compaction and increase your watering schedule.