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You can thicken new grass by using fertilizer, watering it 1 to 1½ inches per week, mowing when it is at an optimal height, and preventing weeds. You should fertilize your grass while you plant the grass seed, or soon afterward. Use an herbicide to prevent weeds or spot spray with herbicide to kill existing weeds.

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.

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.

Post-seeding care involves regular watering, mowing when appropriate, and occasional re-seeding to cover sparse areas.