Last 3 times I core aerated, I put down 30 - 40% of my seed first, aerated, then the rest of the seeds. I used Vermamax (4-4-2 CA9%) as fertilizer and coverage for seed (2.6lbs of organic matter /1k).

 

I'm less than 2 weeks away from doing this as well. I have clay soil, so no sand for me, but plan on using my sun joe "dethatch" to remove a ton of debris that has been in the lawn for a long time. I'm going to really beat it up.( using the scarifier) Then I'm in the same boat as you. If I aerate, I'm going to have a ton of plugs to deal with when I try to top dress. So, I'm debating on; sun joe, seed , top dress, then aerate the heck out of it. Then seed a little more and fertilize. ( jury is still out on fertilizer choice).

And I'm definitely subbing to this thread. Thank you for posting this.

 

I'm less than 2 weeks away from doing this as well. I have clay soil, so no sand for me, but plan on using my sun joe "dethatch" to remove a ton of debris that has been in the lawn for a long time. I'm going to really beat it up.( using the scarifier) Then I'm in the same boat as you. If I aerate, I'm going to have a ton of plugs to deal with when I try to top dress. So, I'm debating on; sun joe, seed , top dress, then aerate the heck out of it. Then seed a little more and fertilize. ( jury is still out on fertilizer choice).

And I'm definitely subbing to this thread. Thank you for posting this.

Yeah, it's a simple three step process but I'm just hoping for the best order to do them in. If it changes anything I'll be overseeing with Champion GQ PRG.

What's the best practice for these three steps? That's the question.

 

I'm less than 2 weeks away from doing this as well. I have clay soil, so no sand for me, but plan on using my sun joe "dethatch" to remove a ton of debris that has been in the lawn for a long time. I'm going to really beat it up.( using the scarifier) Then I'm in the same boat as you. If I aerate, I'm going to have a ton of plugs to deal with when I try to top dress. So, I'm debating on; sun joe, seed , top dress, then aerate the heck out of it. Then seed a little more and fertilize. ( jury is still out on fertilizer choice).

And I'm definitely subbing to this thread. Thank you for posting this.

Yeah, it's a simple three step process but I'm just hoping for the best order to do them in. If it changes anything I'll be overseeing with Champion GQ PRG.

What's the best practice for these three steps? That's the question.

After 3,000 YouTube videos, countless hours scouring google, this forum, and many others, I don't think there is a right or wrong approach to any of it. Seed to soil contact, and keep moist until germination. Lol.... I think everything else is a "however you want to do it" method.

That's the conclusion I've come to..

 

Why aerate? What do you hope to achieve?

 

I'm going to aerate a couple weeks before I overseed. That way it's over and done with. Snow shovel for the plugs works best. Wanting to add more sand to my soil is the reason for aeration. I'm also undecided about whether to overseed, topdress lightly, then roll or topdress, overseed, and roll. What's does everyone else say?

 

Yeah I skipped it last year. Moving forward I'll only overseed if I am seeding into bare dirt or the soil a rock hard.

I'm going to aerate a couple weeks before I overseed. That way it's over and done with. Snow shovel for the plugs works best. Wanting to add more sand to my soil is the reason for aeration. I'm also undecided about whether to overseed, topdress lightly, then roll or topdress, overseed, and roll. What's does everyone else say?