Aerate and overseed lawn

Why It Matters

Compacted soil chokes roots, and bare patches widen each year. Aerating and overseeding fills gaps and rebuilds turf density.

Tools

• Core aerator (rental)
• Broadcast spreader (or spread by hand)
• Garden hose or sprinkler

Materials

• Grass seed matched to existing lawn type

How to Do It

1. Purchase grass seed matched to your existing lawn type before aerating, so it's on hand when you need it.
2. Rent a core aerator from a local equipment rental shop and run it over the entire lawn in overlapping passes.
3. Leave the soil plugs on the surface; they will break down and return nutrients to the lawn.
4. Broadcast grass seed evenly across the aerated lawn, paying extra attention to bare or thin patches.
5. Water the seeded area daily, keeping the soil consistently moist for 2-3 weeks until the new grass establishes.

Related Tasks

• Apply perimeter pest repellent Once a year
• Clear debris from yard Once a year
• Fertilize lawn Once a year
• Mulch garden beds Once a year
• Rake and remove fall yard debris Once a year