To maintain a beautiful lawn, providing basic care and watering is important and ensure that nutrients can reach the soil beneath grass. Aeration an extremely vital element to a healthy lawn, it allow air, water and nutrients to penetrate built-up grass or lawn thatch. This helps the roots grow deeply and produce a stronger, more vigorous lawn. The main reason for aerating is to alleviate soil compaction. Compacted soils have too many solid particles in a certain volume or space, which prevents proper circulation of air, water and nutrients within the soil. Excess lawn thatch or heavy organic debris buried under the grass surface can also starve the roots from these essential elements. Within 48 hours after you aerate, over seed and fertilize, and water your lawn. The seed, fertilizer and water will have the best chance to get down into the holes made by the aerator if applied soon after aeration.