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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.

It depends on the current health of your lawn. Liquid aeration takes longer to work, but the results are longer lasting. Since you can apply the liquid solution several times during the course of the growing season, the results are cumulative. Core aeration, on the other hand, will offer quicker benefits but they will diminish sooner, right along with the soil plugs left behind.

No. Both processes are important for a healthy yard and work toward a similar goal, although dethatching serves a slightly different purpose. Making sure the thatch doesn’t grow too thick prevents other lawn problems, such as attracting pests if the plant decay layer gets too big. Aeration puts less strain on your lawn than dethatching, but both are of equal importance.

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.