Tools for aerating lawns

Generally, aerate clay soil every season and after every two years for other soil types. Based on your lawn size and budge, decided on a manual lawn aerator tool. As mentioned, the three commonly used tools are; manual core aerator, spike aerator or a fork.

Spiked shoes are still a form of aerator but using them may not achieve much. Other than covering a small area, the method may further compact soil that is already stressed.

Preparing your lawn will make the whole process of aeration to become effortless. Clear debris, twigs, leaves from your lawn by raking. Mark all sprinkler heads, cables and other stationary objects in the lawn to avoid damaging them. Mow the lawn to enable easier penetration of the manual tool. Check the moisture level of the lawn. Leave your sprinkler on overnight to make the soil moist and soft for easier penetration.

Soil that is too dry makes it difficult for tines to pierce the ground. Put on your gardening gear that include rubber gloves and boots. Remember to eat well and take plenty of water prior to the process as you will need quite a ton of energy.

Begin punching into the soil as you focus more on compacted areas. Aim for 20 to 40 holes per square foot. You may proceed the following day. Aerating a lawn comes with plenty of benefits. It is a sure way of making oxygen, nutrients and water to reach the grass roots. Additionally, lawn aeration prevents fertilizer and pesticide runoff thus saving on wastage.

Whether you do it yourself or hire a professional, this is an important process that keeps your grass beautifully green, lush and thick. The best time for aeration is during the growing season, when the grass can heal and fill in any open areas after soil plugs are removed.

Ideally, aerate the lawn with cool season grass in the early spring or fall and those with warm season grass in the late spring. Two main aerating tools exist — a spike aerator and a plug aerator.

With a spike aerator, you simply use the tool to poke holes into the ground with a solid tine, or fork. Plug aerators remove a core or plug of grass and soil from the lawn. For the best results, use an aerating tool or machine that actually removes plugs of soil. Poking holes is less effective and can actually cause additional compaction in the areas around the holes. Look for an aerating tool or machine that removes soil plugs approximately 2 — 3 inches deep and 0.

These machines can be rented from lawn and garden stores or home improvement centers. Always follow the directions provided by the store. You may want to consider sharing the rental cost with a neighbor who is interested in aerating the lawn. If you're convinced that your lawn is in need of aeration, here are some lawn care tips on how to do it:. Aeration is a beneficial practice toward achieving a beautiful lawn, but most people don't realize it or understand the process.

If your lawn is a candidate, make it an integral part of your lawn care regime. Your lawn will thank you for letting it breathe again. View solutions for handling the most common engine and product troubleshooting and maintenance questions. All rights reserved. Change Region. United States. New Zealand. Latin America. The method is basically like spike aeration. The major downside to this method is how time consuming it is, especially if a large lawn area is involved.

Below we break it down into a nice and simple step by step guide. The variety determines the best time for you to aerate. A quick recap in case you missed it earlier is warm season grass is best aerated in Spring and cool season grass in the Fall.

Soil type will determine how often you show aerate your lawn. Soils with a higher clay content will need aerating more frequently than those soils with a sandier composition. A general guideline is clay soil every season and other soil types every two to three years. This is a personal choice and will be decided by a number of variables like budget and time. The three main options are a core aerator, a spike operator and a fork. Whether you want something that is going to cover a lot of space at once or you just need something simple that will allow that air and water to get to the roots of your grass, there is a DIY lawn aerator that is perfect for your lawn.

Now, back to aerating those lawns. This is a really simple process and it can be so healthy for your lawn. And, when I say simple, I mean it. There are even a couple of DIY versions of lawn aerating shoes! You just slip them on your feet and walk around the yard to aerate it.

How simple is that? If you really want a beautifully lush lawn this year, I highly recommend that you check out these DIY lawn aerators. And, be sure that you check out these gardening hacks and pro tips that will definitely make you an expert.

Once the spikes are in place, you add a handle and wheels and then just push the aerator through your yard to keep your soil and grass healthy.

This one is so simple and can be really cheap if you have an old oil drum that you can use as the base. Tutorial: gardeninginfozone. This DIY lawn aerator is very cheap and easy to make. The spikes are made from nails, which are perfect for creating the aeration that your lawn needs to make it grow lush and healthy. This one is also a push aerator so you add a handle and then just push it throughout your lawn to help it to grow.

It will only take you a couple of hours to put together and begin using it.