In addition to loosening soil and reducing thatch buildup, aerating your lawn is a great way to keep newly sewn seed and fertilizer from washing away. But aerating and seeding can often be two big undertakings, especially if you have a large lawn.

If seriously compacted soil, thatch or red clay is choking the life out of your lawn, aeration can often be the solution. This process involves removing "plugs" (or "spiking") of soil from your lawn, which helps control thatch development and reduces the compaction of soil.

A lawn that suffers from significant thatch buildup or compacted soil is susceptible to disease and defenseless against drought, traffic and heat. When roots don’t receive proper moisture, air and nutrients, they cannot maintain healthy grass.