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Although core aeration is overall a better method of aerating a lawn, spike aeration can still be helpful, especially if you have a smaller yard or are only trying to work on a specific problem area. Because spike aeration is so accessible thanks to its lower cost and easy DIY tools like aerator shoes, it can still be worthwhile for some gardeners.

Many factors can cause your yard to have lawn depressions. Here are the most common reasons: 

• Heavy rainfall 

• Wild animals such as moles, voles, and groundhogs that burrow and tunnel

• Poor drainage

• Buried items such as pipes that break down

• Decaying tree roots or stumps

• Soil that has compacted

• Improper mowing techniques

• Driving heavy equipment and vehicles through the yard

Before starting any digging project, you must call 811, the national “call before you dig” hotline. After calling, a representative will come out to your property to mark the places where any utility wires or pipes run below the ground so that you can edge or dig trenches safely. You are liable for any damage to utilities and other systems beneath the ground on your property, and you could be seriously injured if you accidentally run into wires or utility lines.

Each type of grass has its own specific needs regarding the timing of aeration, but in general, late summer to early fall is the best time to do so. For most lawns, that means sometime between September and November, though certain types of grass, like St. Augustine Grass, do better with aerations in late spring and early summer.