Aeration is the process of creating space for your soil to breathe and absorb nutrients, water, and fresh seeds through creating hotels in your turf. There are two methods of Aerating your lawn that are popular. One is spike aeration. This is where a tool is used to poke small holes through thatch and turf, without removing any of the lawn. The other is core aeration, where a machine takes a small cylinder, usually 2-3 inches deep, out of your lawn, and leaves it on top of the turf. While spike aeration can be easier, the compaction from driving the spike in can complicate thatch problems around the spike. On the contrary, Core aeration makes a larger hole for nutrients to enter, and the ‘cores’ or ‘plugs’ that are left behind break down and provide nutrients for your lawn. This is why Scott’s Lawn Care recommends core over spike aeration.