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If you have a beautifully thriving yard with no bald spots, you can choose to aerate your yard once every two years. Otherwise, having your lawn aerated at least once a year is recommended. And in those circumstances where you have a significant amount of thatch buildup or a thinning and bald yard, it's best to aerate twice a year to maintain a healthy lawn.

The best way to aerate your lawn depends on what kind of grass and soil you have and your budget and patience level. There are many options to choose from, including spike aerators, core aerators, aerator shoes, and more, and many types can be found in either manual or motorized versions.

It’s a good idea to aerate your lawn in the fall or spring when there is plenty of moisture in the soil. If you plan to aerate twice annually, you can do so once in the fall and once in the spring. You don’t want to aerate when your grass is dormant, and you also don’t want to aerate directly after a big rain, as the soil will be too wet for the aeration to be effective.

Experts typically recommend aerating your lawn about once per year, but your aeration frequency will depend on your soil type, lawn condition, and other factors. For instance, you should aerate annually if you have clay-heavy soil or frequent foot traffic in your backyard. However, if your soil is loose or sandy and you don't use your yard often, you can probably aerate every other year.