The why behind aeration.

Aeration helps relieve soil compaction, allowing your grass to grow deeper roots and make better use of water and fertilizer.

With that in mind, you could argue that no matter how much fertilizer, etc. you apply, are you really going to get the most effective use out of that product without aeration?

My take is no. Here is the formula.

Aerate in the spring, but hold off on the seed, unless it is a newly established yard, and it is necessary to help prevent erosion.

Aerate and overseed in the fall for premium results. Seeding can be tricky in the spring because often times it does not have enough time to develop an established root system and the summer heat can quickly diminish progress without adequate watering.

By overseeding in the fall, you are giving your seed time to germinate over the winter and have an established root system come spring.

See below the results of following this formula, in addition to the correct maintenance program for your specific lawn care needs.