Looking for advice on fall aeration/overseeding vs Weed Control
I’m in Delaware and looking for some advice on my lawn. I have about 10,000 sq ft total. The front is probably around 75% grass, while the backyard is closer to 50-60% grass, with a decent amount of weeds, especially in the backyard.
I’d like to improve the lawn rather than completely start over. My plan was to core aerate and overseed this fall with a good turf-type tall fescue. I’m considering paying someone to do the aeration and then spreading the seed myself to save some money.
A few questions:
- Am I too late to aerate and overseed? It’s currently early October.
- What soil/air temperatures should I be looking for before doing it?
- Should I deal with the weeds first, or is it better to get the seed down ASAP and deal with the weeds afterward?
- There are quite a few weeds in the backyard, but I still have a decent amount of desirable grass. I don't want to kill off the existing lawn.
- Is dethatching necessary? I could have it done, but I don't think I have a major thatch problem.
- Would you recommend paying someone for core aeration and doing the overseeding myself?
- What seed blend/cultivars would you recommend for this region? I'm leaning toward turf-type tall fescue.
- If I miss the window this fall, is spring aeration/overseeding a reasonable alternative, or would it be better to wait until next fall?
I'm mainly trying to figure out the best sequence and timing rather than just throwing seed down and hoping for the best.
My biggest question is whether getting the weeds under control should be the priority, or whether I should prioritize getting the seed down while conditions are still good.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!