aerator

          Aerating your lawn is very important and prior to seeding you want to aerate thoroughly with criss crossing your passes in opposite directions. An aerator is a motorized machine with big hollow spikes that take plugs out of your lawn which you don't clean up. This enables oxygen to the root system and other nutrients to penetrate the thatch which builds up under your grass. It also promotes root growth which will thicken your lawn. Other than a first step in the overseeding process, aerating should be done every fall which is the best time to seed and aerate due to the death of certain weeds and crabgrass and the cooler weather which will enable your lawn to thicken and smother out the crabgrass and weeds. You want to put down lime and 10-20-20 fertilizer which is best for root growth and starter fertilizer for new seed.