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Your lawn needs to recover after aeration, so make sure the work is done at some point during its peak growing season. This will depend on your region and the type of grass you have, but generally, aerate once or twice per year, either during the late spring, early summer, or early fall.

Try the tool test first. A screwdriver or a similarly long, thin tool will work best, as spades and shovels are too big. If something still seems off despite the screwdriver smoothly going into the soil, look for other signs that you need aeration, like thinning grass, discolored areas, and puddles forming on your lawn after light rain. This indicates poor drainage because of too many areas being compacted.

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.

Yes, it’s worth aerating a lawn. Even the most diligent mowing, watering, and fertilizing schedule is not enough if the roots are not able to benefit from the care and nutrients you’re giving them. Even a lawn that’s already healthy can benefit from aeration because the more air that circulates around the roots, the stronger and healthier it will grow.