I second the advice to put down lime and gypsum to break up hardened soil.
I have run a 3ph land pride slice seeder and walk behind slice seeders quite often. Both get great results. The slice is always fully of germinated seed. Grass seed floats and washes into any depression in the first rain after it is put down, and any slight cover over the seed retains moisture and increases germination. The only problem with the bigger units is the slicer discs on most are on a rigid axle and if the lawn is not perfectly even there will be no grooves cut in any depressions. The slicers work well on smooth lawns and new lawns which have been power raked. You may have to hand scarify any areas you see which the slicer discs have not hit.
If you overseed in the fall, before Halloween in New England where I am, you used to be able to count on rain to germinate the seed. And there were very few weeds. Not so much anymore, rain is no longer a sure thing. But I have had very good luck with seed starting next spring if it did not germinate in the fall. Every core hole or slicer cut will germinate seed. The seed germinates early and gets going before any weeds get started. You do need to water a little it a little if it is a dry spring. Seed which has wintered over starts better and a little earlier than seed freshly put down from my experience.
On smaller jobs, below 3 acres, I often don't get out the heavy equipment and just use a walk behind earthway seed broadcast spreader and a tow behind core aerator or slice aerator with cement blocks behind a small tractor. Puts a lot less wear and tear on the ground when you go over 2 or 3 times but you do have to do it when the ground is not completely dry and hard. The seed washes into every hole and germination is good, either in the fall or next spring. Plus those little aerators are under $300 from Deer or Agway. You can try out the method on your place without spending a lot of money.
I have tried dethatching, but I am put off by the huge volume of dead grass I needed to rake up. As previously mentioned, core aerator plugs on top of the soil bring up nutrients and decompose quickly. They also bring up bacteria which decompose thatch well, as long as there is a little rain to help the process.
I have run a 3ph land pride slice seeder and walk behind slice seeders quite often. Both get great results. The slice is always fully of germinated seed. Grass seed floats and washes into any depression in the first rain after it is put down, and any slight cover over the seed retains moisture and increases germination. The only problem with the bigger units is the slicer discs on most are on a rigid axle and if the lawn is not perfectly even there will be no grooves cut in any depressions. The slicers work well on smooth lawns and new lawns which have been power raked. You may have to hand scarify any areas you see which the slicer discs have not hit.
If you overseed in the fall, before Halloween in New England where I am, you used to be able to count on rain to germinate the seed. And there were very few weeds. Not so much anymore, rain is no longer a sure thing. But I have had very good luck with seed starting next spring if it did not germinate in the fall. Every core hole or slicer cut will germinate seed. The seed germinates early and gets going before any weeds get started. You do need to water a little it a little if it is a dry spring. Seed which has wintered over starts better and a little earlier than seed freshly put down from my experience.
On smaller jobs, below 3 acres, I often don't get out the heavy equipment and just use a walk behind earthway seed broadcast spreader and a tow behind core aerator or slice aerator with cement blocks behind a small tractor. Puts a lot less wear and tear on the ground when you go over 2 or 3 times but you do have to do it when the ground is not completely dry and hard. The seed washes into every hole and germination is good, either in the fall or next spring. Plus those little aerators are under $300 from Deer or Agway. You can try out the method on your place without spending a lot of money.
I have tried dethatching, but I am put off by the huge volume of dead grass I needed to rake up. As previously mentioned, core aerator plugs on top of the soil bring up nutrients and decompose quickly. They also bring up bacteria which decompose thatch well, as long as there is a little rain to help the process.
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