How to Break Up Compacted Soil for Grass Seed

Mechanical core aerator

• 1

  Rake the lawn to remove leaves and other debris.

• 2

  Mow the lawn.

• 3

  Move the mechanical aerator to the edge of the compacted lawn area; start the aerator.

• 4

  Guide the aerator over the lawn in a grid pattern to ensure that all areas of the lawn are treated. (Some aerators are push-style, others are towed behind a riding mower or tractor.)

• 5

  Leave the soil plugs expelled by the aerator in place. They will break down completely in a couple of weeks, and will fertilize the soil.

Manual core aerators

• 6

  Rake the lawn to remove leaves and other debris.

• 7

  Mow the lawn.

• 8

  Plunge the manual core aerator into the compacted lawn area and pull it out. Move forward a step, plunge the core aerator into the soil again. Repeat this step across the lawn, following a pattern or grid to ensure that the entire lawn is aerated.

• 9

  Leave the soil plugs expelled by the aerator in place. They will break down completely in a couple of weeks, and will fertilize the soil.

Liquid lawn aerator

• 10

  Rake the lawn to remove leaves and debris.

• 11

  Add liquid lawn aerator to the reservoir of the hose sprayer attachment.

• 12

  Turn on the water supply to the hose.

• 13

  Spray the solution over the entire compacted lawn, following a pattern or grid to ensure that the entire lawn is treated.