

Here is a quick comparison of key features for the best pull behind core aerators on the market: Model Newer “flat-free” tires are made from solid polyurethane and, while they are more expensive, do not suffer from deflation. They provide a soft experience but are prone to flats. Traditional tires are pneumatic, meaning they are filled with air. So, sorry, those novelty spike shoes that poke an inch into the ground are not penetrating deeply enough, not to mention the potential harm they are doing by compressing the soil instead of truly aerating it. Because of this, the depth at which your aerator spoons are designed to dig will dictate the amount of soil that is removed.Īeration cores should be around 3 inches deep, up to 0.75 in diameter, and these plugs should be up to 3 inches apart. Remember that the goal of lawn aeration is to improve air and water penetration while encouraging deeper root growth. Wider pull behind aerators generally have more cores. The more of these your aerator has, the more cores it will remove on each pass. The metal shaft that plunges into the soil is often called a spoon. But if you have a lot of tighter spaces, a smaller unit may make more sense. For larger properties, a wider pull behind aerator will result in fewer passes. One of the first ones is the size of your property.

There are several factors to consider when picking an aeration tool.
SPIKE AERATOR VS PLUG AERATOR HOW TO
How To Pick A Quality Pull Behind Aerator Aerator Width Your lawn may also need dethatching and while aeration can dislodge some thatch, a dedicated dethatching tool is usually best for this purpose. If you’d like to learn more about this, read Does Liquid Soil Conditioner Work? The Easy Aeration Promise. I’ve found that using a liquid soil conditioner (often called liquid aeration) is very useful is moistening the soil in preparation for aeration. If it’s not watery enough, you might end up struggling more than you have to.

You should start aerating by moistening the land. Just poking holes into the ground can cause the soil b to become more compact.įor a better understanding of this read Does Lawn Aeration Really Work? Side By Side Comparison. While both work well for their intended purposes, it’s usually best to use a core aerator to reduce compaction of the soil. The plug aerator, also commonly called a core aerator, digs into the soil and pulls out solid plugs (or cores). The spike aerator basically pokes the ground and leaves holes behind. The two main ones are the plug and spike aerators. Plug Vs Spike Aerators – Know The Difference I do this because I don’t want to cause stress to the grass when it is actively growing.

Note: I prefer to do this very early spring, late fall, and even during the winter. Of course, base this decision on whether your grass is better suited for the warm or the cool season and aerate accordingly. You can also do this early in the spring or late in the fall when it’s cooler. The best time to do this is around the time the grass is growing so that any holes can heal quickly. You also need to aerate at the right time for it to work well. You may actually notice that water sits on the ground for extended periods. If the ground holds water too long after a rainfall.If there’s been recent construction around your home - the construction equipment, people and materials can affect the grass and make it too compact and depleted.If your lawn is used often, for playing purposes either for children or for pets, the continuous stomping can make the land too compact.Here’s how to determine whether your lawn needs aeration: All of these feed the roots of your grass, making it greener and stronger by easing the compression around roots caused by compaction. It ensures that you have a healthy lawn by allowing air to enter the ground and with it, more water, minerals, etc ( source). This is especially true when you have heavy amounts of clay in your soil like I do. Over time, the soil in your lawn can become compacted. Before we dig into those pull behind aerators though let’s make sure you understand a few basics… What Is Lawn Aeration? I’ve contrasted these models using categories like their width, the number of plugs that they have, whether they have pneumatic wheels, and how easy they are to use. Check out the DynaTrap Mosquito & Flying Insect Trap – Kills Mosquitoes, Flies, Wasps, Gnats, & Other Flying Insects – Protects up to 1/2 Acre (link to Amazon).
