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The easiest way to rough up soil to accept grass seed and provide the best opportunity for its growth is to make several passes over the area with a garden tiller and rake away the loosened vegetation and debris. However, in some cases, very hard ground may require using a shovel or pick to break up pieces into smaller chunks that the tiller can handle more easily.

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.

Don’t pick up dirt after aerating. Even though it's tempting because soil cores are incredibly unsightly, these cores and the dirt they leave behind are ecologically important. This is what keeps your grass looking beautiful and growing healthily. The soil cores need two to three weeks to decompose, but you can swat them with a rake if their natural shape bothers you.

Break up hard dirt in your yard with popular methods such as core aeration or manual aeration with a spade, mini excavator, or pitchfork. You can also alter your soil to keep it from compacting in the future. Adding compost, groundcover plants, or aeration granules—preferably made of organic materials—can also soften your ground and encourage water saturation.