Early spring is a great time to aerate the lawn.
With the grass approaching a cycle of fast growth, the turf should recover quickly. Core aeration, which involves cutting and removing plugs from the lawn, is especially helpful in compacted and heavy soils, and where there is a heavy buildup of thatch. The openings allow air, water and nutrients to penetrate the soil, which encourages the grass roots to grow. Whether you rent an aerator or hire someone to do the job, the cores should be at least two inches deep and about four inches apart. If the lawn is dry, deep soak it the day before aerating.