This type of aerator has no engine, but is instead pulled behind a riding mower or pushed across the lawn. Solid-tine aerators poke into the soil using gravity to punch holes straight down. While they will make holes in your lawn, they're far less effective. Solid tine aerators “...
Do not aerate in the peak of summer heat if you want to avoid lawn stress, as thehigh temperatures and potential lack of moisture can make recovery more challenging. For specific aeration advice based on your region and soil type, it’s a good idea to contact yourlocal extension office. ...
Aerating a lawn by hand can be hard work, so for large lawns you may need to use a mechanical aerator instead. These machines are available to hire and are often able to scarify the lawn as well, thus taking care of two lawn maintenance jobs! Some mechanical aerators work by cutting ...
Two main aerating tools exist — a spike aerator and a plug aerator. With a spike aerator, you simply use the tool to poke holes into the ground with a solid tine, or fork. Plug aerators remove a core or plug of grass and soil from the lawn. For the best r...
Spike aeratorssimply poke a hole down into the soil with a solid, spike-like tine. Some homeowners wear spiked aerator “sandals" strapped to their shoes to aerate as they do yard work. While these can help on a small scale, spike machines can make compaction worse by pressing soil togeth...
Make sure to mark any sprinkler heads or shallow irrigation, septic, or utility lines so that you won't accidentally run them over. For lightly compacted soil, go over your entire lawn once with the aerator, making sure to follow directions for use. If your soil is seriously compacted (or...
When the soil gets compacted, it makes it tough for the soil to support water drainage and air circulation. It also interrupts the nutrient absorption. Those things make it more difficult for grass to grow well. A lawn aerator punches holes in the soil about 3 inches deep. It helps loosen...
If your tradeoff to a beautiful new home is accepting the lousy lawn that came with it, or your fixer-upper extends to the backyard, we've got you. Because unless you're short on time, you can tackle a lawn renovation—most makeovers just require a solid plan, a little heavy lifting...
Once spring has officially hit the calendar, it’s quite easy to get overwhelmed by the number of potential gardening projects you have to start, including buying alawn plug aeratorto make your lawn look perfect. Seeding, planting, moving flowers from pots to the soil in your garden and many...
tearing the grass blades which invites disease and make the lawn look brown. Sharpen the blade of rotary mowers at least once a season. Disconnect the spark plug and with mower upended, remove the blade. Bring your blade to a shop for sharpening or do it yourself with a heavy-duty mill...