Are spike aerators effective? Spike aeration can be effective if, rather than trying to loosen the soil, you’re trying to improve access to grass roots during fertilization or prepare the surface of the lawn for overseeding.
Generally, this method is best when lawns have minor to moderate compaction issues, according to Brinly-Hardy.
Is Spike or plug aerator better? Plug aerators are usually more effective at relieving compaction in lawns with a heavy clay soil since the solid tines used on spike aerators compact the clay soil further when they push into the ground. Soils that crumble easily are usually high in loam and sand which benefit more from the use of a spike aerator.
How often should I spike aerate my lawn? Aeration should be done once a year for healthy lawns and twice a year for lawns with compacted soil and thatch buildup.
The best time of year is just before the high-growth season, which, for cool-season grass, is the beginning Spring and Fall and, for warm-season grass, is late Spring.
Which type of aerator is best? Our Top Picks
Best Overall.
Brinly PA-40BH Tow Behind Plug Aerator.
Runner-Up.
Agri-Fab 45-0544 40-Inch Spike Aerator.
Best Bang for the Buck.
Gardzen Plug Aeration, Hand Hollow Tine Lawn Aerator.
Best Manual.
Yard Butler Lawn Coring Aerator.
Best Heavy-Duty.
Agri-Fab 45-0299 48-Inch Tow Plug Aerator.
Best Shoe Aerator.
Are spike aerators effective? – Related Questions
What are spike aerators for?
Spike aerators use a series of rotating star-shaped tines that slice into the soil to allow, seed, fertilizer, water, air, light and nutrients to reach the grass roots.
Aerating should be done when the lawn’s moisture content is high.
Let your lawn breathe.
Should I pick up plugs after aerating?
Those aeration plugs are vital to the health of your lawn. Resist the urge to “clean” the lawn after it’s been aerated, and whatever you do, don’t remove the plugs. We promise, it’s good for the lawn.
Can you aerate your lawn too much?
How often to aerate
Is aerating your lawn worth it?
No, it’s not necessary to aerate your lawn every year, especially if your grass is healthy and thriving.
Aeration is good if you’ve got compacted, poor or clay-heavy soil that’s been impacted by heavy equipment or lots of foot traffic.
Improves water, nutrient and oxygen movement into the soil.
Should I aerate or dethatch first?
It is best to dethatch first before aerating your lawn.
What is the best month to aerate my lawn?
You want to aerate the lawn when your grass is in its peak growing period so it can recover quickly—think early spring or fall for cool-season grasses, and late spring through early summer for warm-season grasses.
If you have high-traffic areas or heavy clay soil, you will want to aerate every year.
How deep should an aerator go?
approximately two to three inches
Look for an aerating tool or machine that removes soil plugs approximately two to three inches deep and roughly half to three quarters of an inch in diameter, about two to three inches apart.
How many passes should I make with an aerator?
For highly compacted soil or soil that hasn’t been aerated in more than a year, make two passes with the aerator: one following your mowing pattern, and the second at an angle to the first. Aim to create 20 to 40 holes per square foot.
What does plugging your yard do?
Lawn plug aeration is a method of removing small cores of soil from the lawn to keep the lawn and grass healthy. It can also prevent the buildup of thatch, or dead grass and roots, in your lawn. Most lawns can benefit from an occasional aeration.
How much does it cost to aerate your lawn?
The cost to aerate your lawn by hiring a lawn care company is about $15 to $17 per thousand square feet. The average lawn size is about ten thousand square feet, making the average aeration cost around $150. It will take a lawn care company about 30 minutes to aerate a ten thousand square foot lawn.
Is it good to overseed after aeration?
Within 48 hours after you aerate you should over seed, fertilize, and water your lawn. The seed, fertilizer, and water will have the best chance to get down into the holes made by the aerator if applied soon after aeration. If the fertilizer contains weed control, your grass seed won’t germinate properly.
What is the best time to aerate and overseed?
fall
The undisputed best time of year to aerate and seed a lawn is in the fall. Warm soils, cool nights and dying annual weeds make fall conditions the ideal time for aeration combined with overseeding as well as general lawn seeding. Unlike fall, spring soils are cold and packed full of dormant weed seeds ready to grow.
Should I water after aeration?
During the first two weeks following your aeration and seeding service, the main goal is to keep the ground/seed moist while the seed begins to germinate. We recommend that you water each day for at least 20 minutes in all areas of the lawn (water the soil to a depth of about 1/4”).
Can I aerate my lawn if I have a sprinkler system?
Before aerating, map out your sprinkler system and make sure there are no pipes or sprinkler equipment close enough to the surface of the lawn to get damaged. You also don’t want to get too close to sprinkler heads as an aerator can easily destroy them.
Does Core aeration really work?
Lawn aeration is beneficial to almost any soil but it offers the most benefit for soils that are heavily compacted. Clay soil, for example, has very small pores and does not allow air exchange. If grassroots cannot grow deep, the turf will be less hearty. This can result in grass that is highly susceptible to drought.
Can you aerate in the rain?
You can aerate a lawn when it is wet provided that it is not excessively wet. Lawn aeration involves making small holes on a lawn’s surface at regular intervals and moist soil helps the process. However, depending on the soil type, excessive moisture can hamper the process.
Does aeration remove thatch?
That will suffocate the roots and kill the grass. The dethatching process removes the excess thatch and ensures that only a healthy layer remains on the surface. Aeration helps release the pressure and loosens the soil, which allows the grass roots to grow and spread.
