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Watering the lawn after aeration is crucial for getting the most benefits out of it. Not watering the lawn enough will cause the efforts of aeration to be in vain. Light and frequent watering will prevent the soil and grass seeds from drying out, but too much watering can create a muddy mess and wash the seeds away. Watering twice a day is a good benchmark.

Yes, you can throw seed on a lawn and hope it grows, but taking a few steps beforehand, such as dethatching, aerating, or raking, will give the seed a better chance of germinating. While it sounds like it’ll save time, throwing seed on the lawn without doing anything will require much more seed than any other method.

Technically, yes—and you may have some successful growth—but this isn’t the ideal way to fill in sparse areas. By clearing leaves and debris, amending the soil, and aerating it properly before you lay the seeds, you’re providing the most ideal conditions for them to germinate.

Raking only moves soil, leaves, and debris around on the surface. Aerating your lawn addresses compacted soil. Core aeration loosens up the soil, which makes it healthier and creates more verdant grass from the richer nutrients and stronger root systems that develop. Raking only provides short-term benefits, while aeration creates higher-quality soil and grass growth in the long term. Rake or dethatch before aerating for a bigger benefit to your lawn.