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Mow before aeration. After you've aerated the lawn, you can fertilize, water, and overseed. But wait at least two weeks after aeration before you mow.

Plug aeration is more effective than spike aeration, although it mars the appearance of your lawn until the plugs decompose. This can take a few weeks and some homeowners find it distressing, especially if they are planning an event and can't have guests stepping on the soil cores. Liquid aeration is just as effective without having to bore holes.

If you plan on laying new grass seed, try to wait eight weeks before stepping on it. You might need to wait an entire season to drive your car across the driveway. Sod establishes itself in the ground in about two weeks.

You can try that, but it isn't likely to yield results. It's like watering potted plants without putting the seeds in. Most of the tossed grass seeds sit on top of the soil or existing grass blades and never germinate. The seeds need to make it into the soil, just like growing a potted plant. The best way to accomplish this is to aerate your lawn first, then overseed.