Aeration benefits your lawn in several ways:

• Aeration allows oxygen, water, and nutrients to penetrate further into the soil, encouraging deeper root growth.
• Aeration reduces soil compaction. The result can be a healthier and more vigorous lawn.

How to aerate your lawn:

• A power aerator is the fastest and most efficient way to aerate your lawn.
• Slightly overlap each pass until the entire lawn has been aerated.
• For smaller areas, a similar effect can be achieved by using a garden fork. Step down firmly on the fork and wiggle the handle back and forth to open the soil and let in more air.
• After you finish aerating, pick up any cores left on your lawn by dragging a piece of chain-link fencing around your lawn behind a mower or by hand. The fencing will break up the cores into small pieces. Another option is to simply set the blade on your mower a little lower than normal, then mow over the cores. This "topdressing" can help to reduce thatch layers.