Over time, the soil beneath your lawn tends to become hard and compacted, particularly in areas with heavy or clayey soil. Symptoms of a lawn suffering from compaction include the following:. While heavy, clayey soil naturally compresses over time, there are several other factors that lead to excessive compaction that can damage your lawn:. You can rent gas-powered aerators at many home improvement or garden centers.
However, if you have just a small lawn or strip of grass, a manual lawn aerator will get the job done, and no need to smell gas fumes or bother with the inconvenience of renting a machine. Spike aerators basically just poke holes into the soil. They do help loosen the soil and improve the health of the grass to a certain extent. Plug aerators remove a little cylinder or plug of soil, roots, and grass. These aerators are more effective at loosening and improving the soil.
There are three basic types of manual lawn aerator: aerator shoes, handheld aerators, and rolling or push aerators, each with its own pros and cons. Aerating shoes: These are spike aerators that strap over your regular shoes and have nail-like metal spikes on the bottoms of the plastic outsoles.
Using them is easy: just strap them on and walk back and forth across the width and length of the lawn two or three times, changing directions at each pass. Handheld aerators: These resemble a pitchfork with two or three sharp tines and a long handle. There are two basic forms of handheld aerators: those that remove plugs of soil and grass, and those that are just spike aerators. With either style, you should make several passes across the entire lawn in different directions to thoroughly aerate the stretch of turf.
Handheld aerators have longer tines than aerating shoes, and the sharp tines dig down easily into compacted soil and so are more effective. Plug-style handheld aerators are the most tiring type of manual lawn aerator to use and therefore only suited to small lawns. Push aerators: These are also called rolling aerators or lawn spikers. They consist of a sturdy handle and cage-like rolling drum covered with sharp spikes.
This is the best type of manual lawn aerator for midsize lawns. Inexpensive: Aerating shoes are the least expensive type of manual lawn aerator. Mid-range: Handheld aerators typically cost more than aerating shoes but less than rolling aerators. While any of the manual lawn aerators in the matrix above will get the job done, there are other excellent choices available. Just step on the platform to drive the double prongs deep into the ground, tilt and pull back, and two plugs of soil drop into the attached collecting container.
Wheel forward and repeat. Push the four curved spikes into the ground, twist, and voila! When should I aerate my lawn? While spring is an acceptable time to aerate any lawn, the best time depends on the type of grass you have. As a general rule, aerate cool-season grasses, such as ryegrass, fescue, and bluegrass, in the early spring, after the last frost date for your area, or in the early fall, before cold weather sets in.
For warm-season grasses, which include Bermuda grass, zoysia, and St. Augustine, late spring is the ideal time for aeration. Should I clean up the plugs of soil scattered atop my lawn after using a plug aerator? If you find the plugs unsightly, go ahead and rake them up and dispose of them in your compost pile. BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own.
Read more. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers. Bottom Line. Tow-behind aerators are best for lawns larger than one-half acre and regular in shape. Consider the width of the aerator and your turn radius as you shop. For smaller lawns and irregularly-shaped grass spaces, choose a push aerator, handheld model, or aerator shoes. A tow-behind aerator is going to require something to pull it along.
You must have a lawn tractor, ATV, or small utility vehicle. Tow-behind models and push models also need weights usually several concrete blocks to help them penetrate the soil.
Consider the storage space required for all of these items. Every type of lawn aerator creates small holes in the ground so that water, fertilizer, and air can reach the roots of the grass and improve growth and health. The best time to aerate the lawn is dependent on the type of lawn grass. Cool-season grasses Kentucky bluegrass should be aerated in the fall. The growing season is still active, but weeds are under control, and temperatures are cooler.
Warm-season grasses Bermuda, centipede should be aerated in the spring. Most lawns only need to be aerated once per year. Of course, there are exceptions. 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.
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. Mary Marlowe Leverette researched and wrote this roundup. She is a Master Gardener and has extensive personal and professional experience testing, reviewing, and writing about home and garden products. You can find more of her work on The Spruce. Actively scan device characteristics for identification.
Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content. Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance.
Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile. Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights. Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. The 8 Best Lawn Aerators of Keep your grass looking healthy. By Mary Marlowe Leverette. Mary Marlowe Leverette. Mary Marlowe Leverette is one of the industry's most highly-regarded housekeeping and fabric care experts, sharing her knowledge on efficient housekeeping, stain removal methods, proper storage, and textile conservation.
She has over 40 years' experience and has been writing for over 20 years. Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process. Reviewed by Barbara Gillette. Barbara Gillette is a master gardener, herbalist, beekeeper, and journalist. She has 30 years of experience propagating and growing fruits, vegetables, herbs, and ornamentals.
Learn more about The Spruce's Review Board. Fact checked by Alexandra Kay. Alexandra Kay is a writer, fact-checker, researcher, and editor who checks The Spruce articles for accuracy and adds source citations. Alex frequently writes for b2b and b2c publications. When she isn't writing or fact-checking for print or online articles, Alex is an associate professor of English at a community college.
Our Top Picks. Best Overall:. A long-lasting tow-behind aerator that works well for clay or loamy soils, its tines can penetrate the soil up to three inches deep. Best Tow-Behind Spike:. Perfect for large lawns with sandy or loam soils, the spikes provide up to 2. Best Tow Behind Plug:. It hitches easily to your lawn tractor and has heavy-duty gauge steel that breaks apart clay soils. Best Liquid:. Using ingredients that help break apart hardened soil, Simple Lawn Solutions can be used with or without mechanical aeration.
Best Push:. Easy to push or pull, this compact aerator is easy to store and ideal for smaller lawns with loamy soils. Best Handheld:. Whether you have clay or loamy soil, a Yard Butler handheld aerator improves the condition of the soil. Best Shoes:. Perfect for small lawns or grassy areas, these attachments strap easily onto shoes In This Article Expand.
Our Picks. What to Look for. Why Trust The Spruce. The 8 Best Grass Seed of View On Amazon. What We Like inch width with 10 spikes Heavy-duty construction Best for sandy soils. What We Like inch width with 32 spikes Heavy-duty construction Best for large lawns with clay soil. The 9 Best Lawn Mowers of What We Don't Like Does not penetrate soil as deeply as mechanical or manual aeration. The 9 Best Fertilizers of The 9 Best Wheelbarrows of What We Like Budget-friendly Easy to store.
What We Don't Like Requires physical dexterity. The 8 Best Gardening Shoes of Final Verdict Our top pick is the Brinly-Hardy 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.
How do lawn aerators work?
0コメント