Where the soil is compacted, use an aerator, available at rental stores, to punch small holes in the ground, or walk over the soil in shoes with cleats. Raking removes thatch and other dead organic material that smothers grass. Leave grass clippings on the lawn after you mow. Earthworms and natural organisms eat the clippings to provide a natural cycle of fertilizing and aeration. Even leaves can be left in place if they are ground up with a lawn mower.
Leaves also provide winter protection for tree roots.
Plant ground cover in difficult areas. Mulch exposed ground with wood chips, hay, or pine needles to keep moisture around plants. Increase activity in spent soil areas by top dressing them once in spring and once in fall with organic matter such as compost, leaf mulch, or peat moss. This makes plants healthier and more resistant to insects, drought , fungi, and disease. Lawns can survive with little or no fertilizer.