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While dethatching first often makes the aeration process faster and easier, both actions can be done on the same day. Aeration can also loosen up the thatch, even if you have a harder time aerating the soil because the thatch got too thick. Because both dethatching and aeration have the common goal of making it easier for the soil to get water and nutrients, it’s safe and possible to do both at the same time.

To prepare your lawn for core aeration, water it the day before you aerate. (Alternatively, you can wait until it rains and aerate the following day.) Aerating after watering or a rainy day will make the process easier since you can penetrate moist soil better than dry soil. You should also flag your sprinklers so that you don’t accidentally hit them while aerating. If you have a lot of thatch buildup in your yard, you might need to dethatch your lawn before aerating as well.

There are a few ways to fix your lawn on a budget, including:

• Identify the lawn care problem and learn how to seed, fertilize, and aerate your lawn. 

• Reseed old, damaged lawn with new grass that fares better in your environment. 

• Remove grass from your yard so you no longer need to worry about lawn care costs.

Yes, you should water the lawn after aerating. Now that you’ve loosened up the soil to better receive nutrients, it’s time to hydrate and fertilize your lawn. You’ll want to keep it evenly moist to promote healthy growth. Don’t drown your grass—too much of a good thing can reverse all the work you’ve done with aeration in the first place. But especially if you’ve overseeded and/or fertilized after aeration, you’ll want to ensure a moist soil layer to absorb those nutrients and fuel for new growth.