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Lawn aeration and dethatching are meant to solve the same problem, loosening up compacted soil so that the root systems can grow and receive more water, oxygen, and nutrients. Aeration is the gentler option and often the preferable one. Dethatching completely tears out the thatch layer of the lawn and can inadvertently yank out healthy grass if done incorrectly. Aeration loosens the soil and only removes small cores of it.

If your lawn hasn't been aerated in over a year, or the soil is incredibly compacted, do two passes with the aerator. The first pass should follow your mowing pattern and the second one should form a perpendicular angle relative to the first. Stick to 20 to 40 holes per square foot as a rule of thumb.

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.

Power seeding machines do a great job of creating narrow trenches in the soil to plant grass seeds into, but aerating before power seeding can be beneficial for your lawn. By aerating first, more water, oxygen, and carbon dioxide can reach the roots of your germinating grass seeds. Plan to aerate your lawn about once or twice a year, whether you plan to power seed or not.