Golf Courses do it.. you should too

Have you ever heard of lawn aeration? If not, you’re missing out on one of the best tips for having a healthy lawn. It offers numerous benefits that will keep your grass greener.

Over time, the lawn forms a layer called thatch — essentially dead grass tissue between the healthy green vegetation and the surface of the soil. It must be removed periodically to keep a thriving lawn. Aerating your lawn in spring or fall cuts down on this thatch.
 
What Is Lawn Aeration?
Basically, it’s creating holes in soil. Either by using a spike or a hollow cylinder that removes plugs or cores in the soil. Benefits of lawn aeration include:
Allowing oxygen to reach the roots and soil
Allowing organic fertilizers and nutrients to reach the roots
Greater water absorption in the soil
Breaking up thatch
Loosening compacted soil to allow the roots more room to grow

How Is Lawn Aeration Done?
You can aerate your lawn with the help of lawn aerator. You can choose one of two types:
A manual aerator has two to four hollow cylinders (that remove soil) or spikes (that just create holes) that you push into the soil with your foot. (Hint: the hollow cylinders are better!)
A power aerator saves you some time and effort. However, power aerators cost more, tend towards the heavy side, and are often hard to control. 

More Aeration Tips.
Water your lawn the day before. This makes the soil softer and easier to aerate.
The coring aerators work better than spikes. The removal of soil allows the lawn’s roots more room to expand.
Leave the extracted cores on the grass to dry then rake them into the grass — this creates micro-organisms that feed on thatch.
If you have soil that needs to be amended, it’s a great time to work organic matter into the lawn.
Overseeding should be done in conjunction with aeration. As the soil cores break down the seed will make better contact with the soil, improving your germination rate.

By selecting an appropriate lawn aerator and following some of the tips above, you can enjoy a healthy lawn in the spring and summer months.