A lush green lawn is certainly a thing of beauty, but what do you do when your own lawn is full of bare spots and other unsightly problems? Thickening up a neglected lawn can be just as challenging as starting a new one – more so in fact since you have to make sure the existing grass does not choke out those delicate new seedlings.

Fortunately there are some tried and true methods for thickening up that spotty lawn and restoring your lawn to its rich green luster. One of the most effective ways to thicken up the lawn is with aeration and over-seeding. Aerating the lawn can result in healthier grass – not only the new seedlings but the existing grass as well.

Of course it is important to choose your aeration equipment carefully before getting started. Many hardware and home improvement stores have aerators available for rent, and many lawn care professional swill be happy to aerate the lawn as well. The best aerators are those that poke thousands of tiny holes in the ground while removing a solid core of soil and letting it lie on the surface of the lawn.

Before the aeration can begin it is important to mow the lawn as close to the surface as possible without causing damage. For best results the height of the mower deck should be set at now more than one inch. Cutting the lawn so closely will slow down the growth of the existing grass and give the new seeds room to grow.