![]() ![]() She is a Master Gardener and has extensive personal and professional experience testing, reviewing, and writing about home and garden products. Mary Marlowe Leverette researched and wrote this roundup. While it is acceptable to aerate when damp, don't do it after heavy rains you'll end up with a muddy mess that makes it hard for the lawn to recover. If the lawn is part of new construction and the ground has been compacted by all of the equipment used during building, you may need aeration to ensure water reaches the roots of freshly laid sod. Most lawns only need to be aerated once per year. Warm-season grasses (Bermuda, centipede) should be aerated in the spring. The growing season is still active, but weeds are under control, and temperatures are cooler. Cool-season grasses (Kentucky bluegrass) should be aerated in the fall. The best time to aerate the lawn is dependent on the type of lawn grass. Consider the storage space required for all of these items. Tow-behind models and push models also need weights (usually several concrete blocks) to help them penetrate the soil. ![]() You must have a lawn tractor, ATV, or small utility vehicle. Consider the width of the aerator and your turn radius as you shop.įor smaller lawns and irregularly-shaped grass spaces, choose a push aerator, handheld model, or aerator shoes.Ī tow-behind aerator is going to require something to pull it along. ![]() Tow-behind aerators are best for lawns larger than one-half acre and regular in shape. Tow-behind aerators are rather large pieces of garden equipment and won’t perform well on small lots or narrow spaces. If the soil does not stick together and falls away easily, you have sandy or loamy soil. If it forms a hard lump in your hand, you have clay. Not sure what type of soil you have? Grab a handful of the soil and squeeze. If the soil is sandy or loamy, then the more narrow puncture of a spike aerator will give you the aeration needed. By removing larger pieces or plugs of dirt, nutrients can penetrate more easily to the roots of the grass. If you have hard, clay soil or water puddles in the grass after rain, then you should choose a plug aerator. What to Look for in a Lawn Aerator Type of soil It has galvanized spikes that can penetrate to a depth of 2.5 inches and will last through many years of use. If you're specifically looking for a tow-behind spike aerator, the Agri-Fab Spike Aerator ( view at Amazon) is a great choice. Our top pick is the Brinly-Hardy 40-inch Tow Behind Plug Aerator ( view at Amazon), which works well on clay and sandy soils, and has a heavy-duty steel construction that will last for years. Also, this is not a machine for large lawns, as the manufacturer strongly advises using an extension cord no longer than 100 feet. We recommend using the Sun Joe without the included collection bag, as it is fairly small and fills up fast, requiring interminable emptying. The handles require minimal assembly, with included hardware. This way you can be sure you set the machine to remove what you want removed and not an entire swath of sod. The scarifying blade is pre-attached, but you also can swap out a rake attachment (included, but you need an adjustable wrench). The 27-pound, ETL-approved de-thatcher features a single-handle, five-position depth control, from less than half an inch below the soil to just under half an inch above. We like the product for its 12-amp electric motor, and for its 12.6-inch path, which strikes us as just the right size for most lawns. We found that the electrically powered Sun Joe AJ801E, which uses a rotating bladed cylinder to scrape up the detritus, accomplishes the task effectively and in far less time. It is physically difficult to do this with a rake, both for the energy it takes and for the amount of distance needing to be covered. For this, many lawn care experts recommend "scarifying" or de-thatching-removing the built-up thatch. But it also doesn't address the issue of piled-up and compressed growth, which can prevent all that from happening. The Spruce Home Improvement Review BoardĪerating may allow your lawn better access to the water and air it needs to grow. ![]()
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