At Lowes I saw a lawn aerator for $20. It's a core aerator. You step on it. How well does it work?

Question

It digs two cores, by putting your weight on it. The previous cores are ejected by the next ones. I'm concerned that it might take weeks to aerate a lawn with it. I would probably have to get the dirt very wet first, to make it easier to push the aerator down into the ground.

I would rather find a power aerator, if I could find one cheap. But this one might do, for a small lawn. Has anyone tried it?

Answer 1

I have this very one, green handle and greyish metal body.
It works just fine... just as you say "for a small lawn" which is my back yard. It doesn't take me all that long... less time than you think it would... but it in fact puts a strain on your back. I'm in shape and in my 30s... I was surprised feeling the strain.

My rear yard is about 20 x 60' and it takes me about an hour to complete. After mowing, I "push" two rows up and back -per each row of mower tracks.

The tool can, at times, get clogged per which I use a quarter inch drill bit with a cordless drill to clear.

I also found a hidden benefit using the tool; I was able to feel a substantial difference in certain parts of my soil when pushing the tool into the ground. This indicated to me locations of shallow top soil which I dug out and replaced. I thought this was very useful bacuse some of these spots were area of lawn decline - this certyainly helped me diagnose the problem.

It's a decent tool for a smaller lawn as you suspect.
Perhaps you would like to rent one- I thinnk they rent for under 50 bucks at Home Depot.

Answer 2

Home Depot Aerator

Answer 3

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
At Lowes I saw a lawn aerator for $20. It's a core aerator. You step on it. How well does it work?
It digs two cores, by putting your weight on it. The previous cores are ejected by the next ones. I'm concerned that it might take weeks to aerate a lawn with it. I would probably have to get the dirt very wet first, to make it easier to push the aerator down into the ground.

I would...

Answer 4

Not necessary. All you need to aerate your lawn is an auger style fence post digger. Let's you dig over a foot deep. Drill a hole about a foot deep then scrape the inside wall of the holes to break up the soil around it (since you've dug a foot deep you will dig out clay and sand) Collect the soil that you've drilled out and break it up well; mix it with compost or garden or lawn soil, mix the two well so it's loose and crumbly then just fill the holes with the mix, since it's a mix, you'll have more than what can fill the hole so put the rest in a plastic bag and save it for later. Then seed your lawn.

Answer 5

We have very hard, compacted, DG soil and you are right, it is easier to soak the lawn before aerating. It does get old pretty fast, but it does the job. If you split up doing the front lawn one day and the back on the second, it isn't too bad.

Answer 6

I saw in Popular mechanics the september 2007 issue- a mow aerator - this hooks around your tractor tires on the rear ( sorta medival looking - has 1 1/2 long spikes) like snowtires and you aerate when you mow.
Heres the website for more info: www.gailcoinnovations.com - it says theyre not in stores yet, but are expected to sell for $110 ( doesnt say apiece or a pair) .
Kidd

Answer 7

Post Hole Digger Lowes