How to Aerate a Yard

Aerate your yard to improve your lawn's ability to soak in valuable water and oxygen. Aerating the yard opens pathways in the soil to allow water to seep deeper to the grass roots. The deeper grass roots are often neglected as a result of built up thatch and densely packed soil at the upper levels. You can choose from two kinds of lawn aerators: a spike or plug aerator. Spike aerators work best when planning to also add grass seed to the soil after aeration. Plug aerators are most effective at creating the paths for water as well as providing necessary space for the newly moistened soil to expand.

Things You'll Need

• Garden rake
• Aerator
• Garden hose

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Instructions

1. • 1

     Rake the entire yard with a garden rake to remove dead grass clippings and other obstructions from the lawn. Rid the lawn of as many stones as possible.

   • 2

     Water the lawn with a garden hose if it has been more than a few days since the last watering or rain.

   • 3

     Position the aerator at one corner of the lawn and begin pushing the tool over the grassy area in one direction until you reach the edge of the yard. Turn and repeat the pass with the spikes slightly overlapping your first path.

   • 4

     Continue the back and forth passes until the entire yard has been aerated.

   • 5

     Leave the plugs on the lawn to be broken up and spread throughout the yard gradually.