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The frequency of lawn aeration depends on factors such as soil type, grass variety, and lawn usage. In general, it is recommended to aerate cool-season grasses like Kentucky bluegrass or fescue once a year during the fall. On the other hand, warm-season grasses such as Bermuda or zoysia benefit from aeration in late spring or early summer. However, it's essential to assess your lawn's specific needs, as signs of compaction and reduced grass health may indicate the need for aeration outside these general guidelines.

If your lawn has some lumps and bumps, yes, aeration can help—although it may also be beneficial to take on other steps, like irrigation, fertilization, and dethatching (also known as scarifying). You can also use a power rake to physically break up the bumps in your lawn, which can help you achieve a more even look.

The screwdriver test involves trying to push a screwdriver into your lawn. If it goes in easily, you’re likely overwatering and should cut back. If there’s moderate resistance, you have a good watering schedule and soil composition. If there’s a lot of resistance or you can’t get the screwdriver into the soil, you may need to aerate your lawn to reduce compaction and increase your watering schedule.

Yes, you can DIY either core or liquid aeration for your lawn. You can use a manual core aerator or rent an automatic one. Just be sure to mark off yard obstacles like sprinkler heads before you start. Liquid aeration is easier—just hook up a garden pump sprayer, although some are able to be attached to a hose. While liquid aeration is not as laborious as core aeration, you will need to focus on an even distribution of the solution across your entire lawn for it to be effective. Of course, if you are unsure about doing both, call a pro.