Lawn Aeration & Overseeding

It's like a two punch combo to get your lawn into shape

Lawn Aeration And Overseeding - A Two Punch Combo For Your Lawn
Lawn aeration and overseeding are a lawn care professionals secret weapon

Aerating and overseeding your lawn is a key part of any professional lawn care program.  Over a long period of time your grass can grow thick and matted near the soil and become very difficult for oxygen and other nutrients to reach the roots of your grass.  This along with issues like fungus, drought stress, and foot traffic can cause problems that generally manifest themselves as an unhealthy looking lawn with brown or dead patches everywhere.

Haughey Brothers Landscaping is a landscaping contractor based out of Westfield, New Jersey and serving Union County, including: Berkeley Heights, Chatham, Cranford, Madison, Mountainside, Scotch Plains, Short Hills, Springfield, and Summit. We specialize in providing lawn aeration and over-seeding as part of our regular lawn care services or we can also provide it as a standalone service for large residential and/or commercial clients with high visibility lawns.

Lawn aerating is the process using a machine to punch hundreds of small holes into your lawn.  As the machine punches the holes it also removes a small amount of grass and soil, that we call “plugs”.  These holes assist the delivery of oxygen and nutrients directly to the root system of your lawn.  This is also an excellent time to overseed your lawn too which encourages new grass to grow in areas that might be patchy or are dead or dying.  It’s a two punch combo that can really help bring back a lawn from looking poorly cared for, to lush and healthy again.

Top Reasons To Aerate And Overseed Your Lawn

  1. It’s never been done on your lawn before.
  2. Your lawn appears patchy and brown.
  3. You always leave your clippings on your lawn.
  4. Your lawn has been scalped by mowing, leaving bare patches.
  5. Your lawn sees heavy foot and pet traffic.
  6. You just want to give your lawn it’s best chance!

As professionals, we recommend aerating your lawn at least once per year.  This frequency can help counter the natural thatch and works to improve your overall soil conditions which is key to a beautiful lawn.  The health of your grass is ultimately determined by the health of your soil.  A properly aerated lawn will also respond much more vigorously to fertilization and regular watering too if you have an irrigation system (and you should have one for a beautiful lawn).

Does My Lawn Really Need Aeration?

The simplest answer is yes, your lawn will always benefit from being aerated at least once a year in the fall.  If you are serious about the health and appearance of your lawn then aeration and over-seeding are just a normal part of a regular lawn care regime.

In order to know for sure we need to view your property to determine the overall condition of your lawn.

  • Does your lawn get used frequently by your children or pets?
  • Do you let your grass clippings fall back onto the lawn?
  • Was your lawn just recently installed?
  • Does your lawn dry out very quickly in the summer?

These are all signs your lawn could benefit from aeration. The best time to aerate your lawn is during the fall when the roots can recover quickly and the existing grass can work to fill in all of the plugs of grass/soil that will be removed during the aeration process.

What Does Lawn Aeration Do For Your Lawn?

This process delivers oxygen, water, and nutrients directly to the roots which encourages the roots to grow deeper and works to improve their uptake of nutrients and resilience to produce a more vigorous lawn.  Aerating has long been a lawn care secret that golf courses and sports fields groundskeepers have employed because it really makes a difference especially when used as part of a total lawn care program. We use a special machine called a “lawn aerator” to aerate our clients lawns.

This machine was specifically designed to perforate your soil with hundreds of small holes that allow oxygen, water and nutrients to penetrate directly into your lawns root system. The “plugs” of grass that are removed by the aerator usually contain an inch or two of soil and are about 1/2″ to 3/4″ in diameter.  These resulting holes are what allows the air and nutrients down into the soil and close to the root systems where they really need to be.

What Does Overseeding Do For Your Lawn?

The aeration process creates the perfect environment for planting new grass seed which is why we also recommend overseeding at this time.  Lawn overseeding is the process of sprinkling new grass seed over the patchy, brown, or scalped areas of your lawn.  These could be areas where the mowing deck was set too low and the grass has been scalped, crowns or high spots in your lawn, bald spots, brown patches, or areas where the grass is just really thin.  Overseeding helps your lawn grow thicker in these areas.

A lawn with thick, healthy, lush growth is also great at preventing weeds from growing in your lawn too.

If you’d like to see if lawn aeration and overseeding could help make your lawn more vibrant and healthy then please give us a call (908) 265-3847 or fill out our online contact form and we’ll get back to you right away.

How Lawn Aeration Works

Lawn Aeration and Overseeding

Healthier Roots

The aeration process loosens the soil and promotes healthy root growth by encouraging the roots to grow deeper.  The result is healthier, stronger grass.

Nutrient Uptake

With a healthier root system your grass is able to uptake the nutrients in the soil much more readily.  This encourages the lush, green, growth you're after.

Loosens Compacted Soil

The aeration process improves drainage and helps prevent the soil from becoming compacted and developing into a "hardpan" situation with pooling water.

Questions About Lawn Aeration?

Lawn aeration involves creating small holes in the soil to allow air, water, and nutrients to penetrate down to the grass roots. This process helps reduce soil compaction, which can occur from foot traffic or heavy use. Aeration is important in New Jersey due to our varying soil types and seasonal changes, promoting healthier grass growth and a more vibrant lawn.

Your lawn might need aeration if it feels spongy, you notice water pooling after rain, or it's subject to heavy use that leads to soil compaction. Lawns in New Jersey, especially those with clay soil, benefit from regular aeration to combat compaction and prepare for the intense summer and winter seasons.

The ideal time for aeration in New Jersey is during the growing season when the grass can heal and fill in any open areas after soil plugs are removed. For cool-season grasses, early fall or spring is optimal, allowing the grass to peak in growth and take full advantage of aeration benefits.

Overseeding introduces new grass seed to fill in thin or bare spots, improving your lawn's density and color. In Connecticut, overseeding is best done in the fall, following aeration. This timing allows the new seed to establish before winter and reduces competition from weeds.

Yes, aerating your lawn before overseeding is highly beneficial. Aeration creates openings in the soil that help grass seeds make direct contact with the soil, improving germination rates and encouraging deeper root growth. This combination is particularly effective for enhancing lawn health and resilience.

Prepare your lawn by mowing it to a lower height and watering it a day or two before aeration. This preparation helps the aerator penetrate the soil more effectively and ensures the overseeded grass seeds have adequate moisture to germinate.

While not all lawns may require annual aeration and overseeding, most can benefit from these practices every year or every other year. Factors such as soil type, lawn age, usage level, and existing lawn health determine the necessity and frequency of these services.

Our Clients Love Us!

Here's What They Say

Corri Skinner
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Corri Skinner
July 29, 2025

We had a fantastic experience working with Haughey Brothers Landscaping to redo our fence, retaining wall, patio, and sod. Going into it, we weren’t sure how to navigate the different needs of our yard, but they walked us through every option, broke the project into clear phases, and provided detailed estimates for each, working with us to stay within budget. Initially, we expected the work to start much later, possibly not until August. Just two weeks after our first conversation, everything was done! The fence is flawless, the retaining wall is solid and clean, and the new grass looks incredible. They stayed in touch every step of the way, sticking to both timelines and costs. At one point, a miscommunication led to part of our yard being cleared of grass while we weren’t home. We were surprised to come back and see it, but the team responded right away with a thoughtful solution and made sure everything was restored quickly and seamlessly. That kind of responsiveness and care really stood out. We just hosted our first backyard BBQ this past weekend, and for the first time, we’re truly able to enjoy our outdoor space. Haughey Brothers will be my top choice for all future lawn projects!

Anastasia Kalinchak
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Anastasia Kalinchak
July 20, 2025

Haughey Brother’s Landscaping did a phenomenal job working on our backyard walkway. Absolutely beautiful work.

Mary Drabich
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Mary Drabich
July 16, 2025

Devin and his team were incredibly professional. They walked us through every step of the process to help us get to what we were looking for. Great patio work as well as over all landscaping. Additionally, when we had follow up questions or changes to our original plan Devin and his team where so receptive to seeing our vision through. Final product exceeded expectations

Ryan Harty
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Ryan Harty
May 15, 2025

Great service! This is my second time using Haughey Brothers Landscaping and it was again a great experience with an outstanding final result. Super responsive and worked with me throughout the process to ensure the yard was exactly what I was looking for. I will use them in the future for all my landscaping needs. Highly Recommend!

Derek Antonelle
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Derek Antonelle
May 9, 2025

We recently had the pleasure of working with Haughey Brothers to complete several improvements to our home, including an entire new landscape design and installation for our front yard, planting privacy trees on our side yard, a river rock design around our pool, playground mulch installation and sod installation in the backyard. We are so happy that we decided to go with Haughey Brothers, as the completed work came out so much nicer than we could have ever imagined. From start to finish, Devin, Ethan and his team maintained great communication and completed their work in a timely manner, especially considering all the rain they had to work around. I highly recommend Haughey Brothers for all your landscaping needs!

Frank Beato
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Frank Beato
May 3, 2025

Happy with the work done by Haughey Brothers. Lawn was aerated, seeded and top dressed. Within 3 weeks grass has filed in well. The front I just did its first cut today. Highly recommend Haughey Brothers Landscaping.

Jonalen Chua-Protacio
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Jonalen Chua-Protacio
May 3, 2025

Great landscaping services. Trimming back overgrown bushes and ivy removal. Professional, responsive, and timely.

victoria sweeney
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victoria sweeney
May 2, 2025

We are pleased with the work done by Haughey Brothers Landscaping. If you are thinking about hiring a landscaper, you might want to hire them for a small job or a bigger project.

Jim Ryan
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Jim Ryan
May 2, 2025

We have used Haughey Bros for landscaping, monthly lawn maintenance and snow removal for many years now. They are prompt and always do a professional job!

Adana Llanos
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Adana Llanos
April 30, 2025

We have a great experience working with the Haughey Brothers for our landscaping needs for about a year so far. They also did a fantastic job replacing our fence. Highly recommend!

Rachel Hajjar
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Rachel Hajjar
April 29, 2025

We had a great experience with Haughey Brothers, which influenced our decision to use them for our year-round lawn service. Ethan made multiple site visits prior to us signing a contract so we could share our vision, and he was able to execute in an extremely fast manner. They redid our entire backyard with new sod and installed playground mulch, stepping stones and river rocks and additional shrubbery. I would highly recommend their services to anyone looking for a great landscaping team.

Renee Cox
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Renee Cox
April 28, 2025

We recently hired Haughey Brothers Landscaping and we couldn’t be happier with the results! They did an amazing job thatching our grass; cutting back all our sedge and seasonal ornamental grasses .... weeding, edging, and mulching all of our beds. The crew was super professional, neat, and respectful of our property. Our yard has never looked better — it’s like a total refresh! They offer a huge variety of services, and we’ll be using them for flower installation, weekly lawn mowing, fall leaf cleanups and aeration & seeding too. They’re also incredibly easy to work with — everything is streamlined, including project quotes, appointments, automatic payments, etc which makes the whole process seamless. We’re also happy to support these hardworking young entrepreneur brothers — Devin and his team are doing fantastic work, and we highly recommend them if you’re looking for a reliable, high-quality ... but reasonably priced, landscaping company!

Marybeth Simpson-Steeber
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Marybeth Simpson-Steeber
April 28, 2025

Shout out to Haughey Brothers Landscaping!! Not only did they do beautiful work, but they are courteous , professional, and most importantly, actually return phone calls! In fact, their communication is excellent. So glad we used them, and recommend them highly!

Henry Burk
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Henry Burk
April 26, 2025

We have been using the landscaping services of the Haughey Brothers since they started their business. We have been very pleased with their service and would like to recommend them highly. Aside from their work, the brothers are pleasant and pleasant to deal with.

Trish Touloumis
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Trish Touloumis
April 25, 2025

The Haughhey brothers did such a beautiful job with the mulch and my spring clean up. Highly recommend them for your landscaping needs!

Shannon McKenna
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Shannon McKenna
December 11, 2024

Haughey Brothers redid my front landscaping, installed a new back patio, helped with drainage, connected me with a fencing company and regraded/put down sod in my backyard. They were very responsive and did an excellent job! I have received numerous compliments from my neighbors about how great everything looks. I continue to use them for weekly lawn maintenance and they keep my house looking so neat. I highly recommend them for all landscaping projects.

Jerry DeNigris
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Jerry DeNigris
October 15, 2024

The Haughey Brothers did a great job on our landscaping. They trimmed the out of control hedge on the side of our house and in the back yard. The edged and mulched the beds in the front of our house. Good prices and very friendly. Great to work with. I would definitely call the again.

Alda Alves
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Alda Alves
October 8, 2024

I have always wanted the front of my home to be beautiful and inviting. When I found Haughey Brothers Landscaping they responded to me quickly and worked with me to create an amazing plan with great plant and floral recommendations. After they sent me the final mock up of the plan they came in professionally and made the front of my home absolutely stunning. It was awesome to have this team! I highly recommend.

DG
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DG
October 2, 2024

I have nothing but good things to say about Haughey brothers!! Ethan, the owner talked and was very patient with me. He walked me through the entire process of what they were going to do to my home which was alot of landscaping in the front using river rocks. His workers did a Phenomenal job, worked very hard & did a great clean up. I'm EXTREMELY happy with the outcome of my Landscaping . Thank you to all for your impeccable work ethics!!

jesse
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jesse
September 29, 2024

Haughey Brothers were hired to do some landscaping work removing of large shrubs reestablishing both front and back yards. also replacing an inground pipe. There work was professional and well beyond my expectations. I shall be utilizing there services in the spring for possible outdoor shed removal and replacement. Good work.

Sean Hudson
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Sean Hudson
September 20, 2024

Haughey Brothers Landscaping is simply the BEST in the business. Very pleased with the quality of work, price, and professionalism.

Bruce Kanengiser
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Bruce Kanengiser
September 18, 2024

I highly recommend Haughey Brothers Landscaping. They do a great job with their weekly maintenance, as well as their other services including trimming of shrubs and keeping the flower beds nice and neat. They have recently completely renovated my lawn with thatching, core aeration, topsoil dressing, and seeding. Both Devin and Ethan are very professional to deal with, and their pricing is very reasonable. If you need a quality landscaper in Union county, contact Haughey Brothers.

Dan Aschenbach
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Dan Aschenbach
August 27, 2024

Haughey Brothers Landscaping did an excellent job with lawn and edging. We appreciated the service.

john brigida
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john brigida
July 12, 2024

This is an amazing company from start to finish. We were having trouble finding reliable landscapers in the Chatham area. A lot of not call backs, no shows etc. Called Devin and he came by same day to give me an estimate on landscaping services. I received a quote same day and they began work two days later. Devin’s team is professional, hard working and the quality of their work is impressive. Everything is easy and hassle free when dealing with this company and their work speaks for itself. Pictures below. Couldn’t recommend this team more.

anthonycap2009
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anthonycap2009
July 9, 2024

Hired Haughey Brothers Landscaping this year to do a major drainage project that would divert water accumulating at the base of the front of my house to stop basement and garage flooding that was occuring after major rain events. The project worked great and the flooding has stopped. Adding some photos that show the work being done and videos that show the water not accumulating in front of the house and one video showing the water being diverted down my driveway at the back of my house down to the street.

Lesley Landa
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Lesley Landa
July 3, 2024

Highly recommend HAUGHEY brothers for landscaping projects. They did an amazing job planting trees for privacy and also cleaned up and redesigned our beds. They were great to work with and everything turned out beautiful.

George Jorn
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George Jorn
July 2, 2024

Haughey Brothers recently completed extensive landscaping work on our front and side yards. They did an absolutely amazing job! The appearance of our home was totally transformed in two days! Both Devin and Ethan are honest, knowledgeable and very easy to work with. Their staff also arrived on time and were total professionals too.

Diane Bieber
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Diane Bieber
June 20, 2024

I recently had a new walkway installed by Haughey Brothers Landscaping and was very pleased with the results. It was completed in one day within a week of my first contacting them. The before and after photos speak for themselves.

Trevor Deal
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Trevor Deal
June 11, 2024

Ethan and Devin (the Haughey Brothers) are awesome! They are responsive, professional, reliable and do great work for a reasonable price. They are hard workers and always go above and beyond, while getting things done on time (and as promised). I recommend them for all of your landscaping needs.

Tom Gilligan
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Tom Gilligan
June 2, 2024

We are very happy with the work done by the Haughey Brothers and their crew. In addition to doing a Spring cleanup and mulching, they transformed two neglected areas of our property making them useful and beautiful. Ethan was easy to work with and had some great ideas to improve the landscaping of the property. Will definitely use them again. A couple of before and afters:

Benny Fung
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Benny Fung
June 1, 2024

Devin and Ethan are extremely nice, punctual, and do fantastic jobs. I needed something relatively urgent done, and they were able to meet up, quote, change/revise quote for some other options, and on a short notice, they were able to accommodate a next day project done that originally was planned for at least 3-4 weeks out. I'll recommend them to anyone in the area that needs landscaping done!

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