The answer to 'DIY aeration' is that aeration is an important lawn maintenance task that can be done yourself with the right tools and techniques. Aeration involves creating small holes or slits in the soil to allow air, water, and nutrients to reach the grass roots more effectively.
To aerate your lawn, you'll need an aeration tool like a core aerator, which uses hollow tines to pull small plugs of soil from the ground. You can rent a gas-powered aerator from a home improvement store or use a manual aerator tool. Aerate your lawn when the soil is moist but not saturated, typically in the spring or fall. Make sure to go over the entire lawn, spacing the holes 6-12 inches apart. After aeration, you can overseed your lawn or top-dress it with compost to further improve soil health.