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Don't pick up or dispose of aeration plugs. They will break down by themselves in one or two weeks. Rainfall will speed this up, as will watering the lawn. Mowing helps, but don't mow the grass too soon post-aeration. It's unusual that the plugs would remain after three or four weeks, but mowing and raking will break them down by that point.

Reseeding your lawn can help eliminate thin or patchy portions of grass. If you’re paying a professional to aerate your lawn, it’ll cost you an additional $50 to $80 on average to reseed it  in the same trip. Reseeding a lawn yourself can cost between $500 to $1,000, meaning you’ll probably save time and money hiring a professional service. 

If maintained correctly, natural grass should last between five and 15 years, or up to several decades, depending on your home’s climate conditions. You can extend your grass’ lifespan by treating it well, including regular mowing, weeding, watering, and preventative pest control. Consider hiring a local lawn care service to provide everything your grass needs to live a long, healthy life.

If your lawn hasn't been aerated in over a year, or the soil is incredibly compacted, do two passes with the aerator. The first pass should follow your mowing pattern and the second one should form a perpendicular angle relative to the first. Stick to 20 to 40 holes per square foot as a rule of thumb.