Is it better to plug or aerate your lawn?
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.
Does a lawn aerator really work?
Aeration helps penetrate and reduce thatch buildup or prep it for removal through dethatching. If your grass often looks stressed and your soil is hard to the touch or rainwater puddles up where it used to be absorbed, you may have compaction problems.
Is there an electric aerator?
Plug Aerators specially designed to punch holes and remove the debris and soil. It is suitable for heavy clay and compact soil. Plug aerators come in battery operated, electric and gas powered models.
How do you use an electric lawn aerator?
How to use a lawn scarifierRemove any debris from the lawn and apply a moss killer, rake out the dead moss in advance of scarifying. ... Mow the lawn on a low setting. ... Scarify the lawn on a high setting. ... Apply top soil and grass seed to finish.
What are some of the most common mistakes people make when aerating their lawns?
Many people don’t realize that they need to apply enough pressure to their aerator to ensure that the spikes or core make it far enough into the so...
What material should I look for or stay away from?
Remember that for most of the year, your aerator will stay in storage. It is best to find a rust-proof material like a coated metal. This material...
If I use a coring aerator, do I need to remove the pods of soil?
No. You do not need to remove them right away, but in order to have a healthy lawn, you have to either mow over them to break up the soil and keep...
What is a plug aerator?
Plug aerators have hollow tines that penetrate the ground and remove plugs of soil. Choose a plug aerator if your lawn is difficult to dig into or if water pools in the grass after a rainfall. Spike aerators simply puncture the ground with long spikes and work well on sandy or loamy soil.
What is aeration in lawn?
Aeration creates spaces for air, water, and nutrients to reach the roots and restore the health of the grass. When choosing an aeration tool, you should consider the size of the lawn, ease of use, the type of soil, durability, and adjustable aeration depths. Aerators work with either plugs or spikes.
What size tow behind aerator for lawn?
Size of Your Lawn. Tow-behind aerators are rather large pieces of garden equipment and won’t perform well on small lots or narrow spaces. Tow-behind aerators are best used on lawns larger than one-half acre and regular in shape. Consider the width of the aerator and your turn radius as you shop.
How much weight can an agrifab aerator hold?
When you have heavy soil, you need a heavy-duty lawn aerator. The Agri-Fab plug aerator has 32 galvanized plugs that will penetrate to a depth of two-inches. Able to hold 140 pounds of weight (3-4 concrete blocks), the steel construction will withstand years of use.
What size plugs should I use for clay soil?
The 40-inch width and 24 3-inch plugs help cover large areas quickly.
How can I make my lawn look better?
A beautiful lawn requires feeding, watering, weeding, and mowing to keep it looking its best. One of the best ways to make sure that your efforts are maximized and to prevent bare patches is to aerate the lawn. Soil, especially clay-based soils, can easily become compacted and prevent water and fertilizer from reaching the roots of the grass.
When should I aerate my lawn in Kentucky?
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.
Types of lawn aerators
These are best for smaller gardens or plots of land. Manual lawn aerators require body weight to physically pierce the earth. Most models come with spikes or a corer. Some manual lawn aerators can be purchased in a shoe version that allows you to simply walk around on your lawn or garden to aerate.
What is the difference between a core aerator and a spike aerator?
A core aerator is also sometimes referred to as a plug aerator. Core aerators actually remove a chunk of the soil. This allows for water and oxygen to reach the roots and accelerate the growing process of the plant.
Lawn aerator considerations
Before purchasing your lawn aerator, you will want to consider the following factors to ensure that you are getting the perfect model for your needs. Here are the key considerations before buying a lawn aerator.
Lawn aerator prices
Lawn aerators have a huge price range. Consumers can pay anywhere between $25 and $2,000 for a lawn aerator. Unless you own a landscaping company, you need not pay top dollar for a large, electric lawn aerator. You can get all of the primary bells and whistles of a top rated lawn aerator for around $200.
Tips
The best time to aerate your lawn is during the spring and fall seasons.
What is a lawn aerator and what does it do?
Aerating your lawn is part of a spring and autumn lawn care regime and there are two different methods of aerating your lawn:
How to choose the best lawn aerator
Depending on the type of aerator you’re going to choose, there are several key features to look for:
How we tested lawn aerators
To see how well lawn aerators perform, the GW reviews team tested a range of models across a range of garden situations – creating holes and slits in different turf and ground conditions. Before we started, we checked for any wildlife in the grass and organic debris on the lawn surface.
What is the purpose of a lawn aerator?
By doing so, the aerator makes it easier for water, seeds, and nutrients to reach the root system.
What is a lawn plug aerator?
A lawn plug aerator is a garden tool that creates holes in the soil and thus helps nutrients and water reach the roots of your lawn. Soils that are compacted and have a high clay concentration will make it difficult for your lawn’s roots to access oxygen and other essential nutrients.
How much weight can you put in a lawn aerator?
Here is where the weight tray capacity plays an important role. Quality and durable aerators feature trays that allow you to add up to 200 or even 225 pounds of extra weight.
How much weight can a plug aerator hold?
The plug aerator also boasts a tray that can hold up to 200 pounds of additional weight. The plugs can be replaced when the need arises and the feet are retractable so you can reduce wear on the plugs. The item can be easily attached to any category 0 or 1 tractor.
What is a spike aerator?
Spike aerators feature a roller with several solid spikes that puncture the soil to create space for water, air, and nutrients to reach the lawn’s roots. Plug aerators, also known as core aerators, feature hollow tines that remove plugs of soil and leave gaps in the lawn soil.
Why do you need an aerator for your lawn?
A lush lawn starts with healthy soil. Such a product will help you make sure that the soil breathes and the water and nutrients needed for the grass to grow reach the lawn’s roots. Soil can dry or become compact, especially in a hot climate area.
How often should I aerate my lawn?
Aeration is recommended at least once a year, preferably twice, and should be done just before or during periods when the grass should grow. The type of grass you have will help you determine the aeration frequency as some grasses require aerating more often.
ApolloSmart 2-in-1 Dethatcher and Scarifier – Premium Pick
One of the best features that ApolloSmart dethatcher has to offer is its 12-amp powerful motor. The motor is powerful enough to lift any debris from your lawn surface and collect it in the large collection bag that accompanies the machine. The machine also offers an adjustable tine height within -0.43 to 0.2 inches.
Sun Joe AJ801E 12 Amp Electric Scarifier Lawn Sweeper – Best Value
With the newly improved Airboost technology, the AJ801E comes with a powerful motor that makes dethatching a very easy process. You can also switch between the scarifier and the dethatcher cylinders very easily.
Goplus 2-in-1 Lawn Dethatcher and Scarifier – The Largest Thatch Bag
The Goplus dethatcher is equipped with a 12-amp motor that allows you to work on any lawn surface with ease. The dethatcher also allows you to choose between three depth positions so you can remove your grass surface accordingly. The machine comes with a large collection bag, which saves you time while dethatching.
Greenworks 14-Inch 10 Amp Corded Dethatcher 27022 – Easiest to Store
Offering great performance, the Greenworks 27022 comes with a powerful motor that is durable and extremely functional. The dethatcher has tines that can easily slice even the toughest pieces of grass. It also comes with a fully padded handle that makes the long and tedious process of dethatching very comfortable.
WORX WG850 12 Amp Corded Electric Dethatcher – The Most Lightweight
Among its many features, the WG850 also offers a vertical cutter that offers an impressive speed of 3500 rpm. The machine also features 14-inch long steel tines that are sharp enough to cut through even the toughest of thatch. You can even adjust the height of these tines accordingly.
Things to Consider
A thatcher is a great tool to help keep your lawn green and healthy, which is why you need to buy the best one. An ideal dethatcher should be able to make sure that there is no thatch left on your grass.
How a Dethatcher Works
Similar to power raking, a dethatcher works to remove thatch from the surface of the grass. Thatch is the dead layer of grass on its surface which often prevents fertilizers, air, or sunlight from entering the soil.