does spike aerator work

Does Spike aeration really work?

Spike aeration works but provides short-term results because when you push the aerator into the soil, it pushes soil down and to the sides instead of removing the thick thatch that is causing compaction. With time, the soil will readjust and close the small holes you made in the ground.

What is the difference between a spike aerator and plug aerator?

Spike aeration uses a roller with solid spikes to puncture the soil and create spaces for air and water. Plug or core aerators use hollow tines to remove plugs of soil, leaving small gaps in the soil.

What is an aerator and how does it work?

Spike and plug aerators are used to alleviate the negative affects of compacted soil on your lawn. Soils that have a heavy clay content are more likely to become compacted, limiting the ability of the roots in your lawn to access oxygen.

Do aerator shoes compress the soil?

Since the spikes on lawn aerator shoes are solid opposed to being hollow, they tend to push the soil to the side and downward when they enter the lawn, compacting the soil even more.

Is Spike aeration better than nothing?

Spike lawn aeration is better than nothing—at least it breaks the surface of the soil to help rainwater penetrate.

When should I spike aerate?

While cool-season lawns can be aerated in either early spring or early fall, fall is preferred because weeds are less likely to sprout in the holes. For warm-season lawns with grasses like Bermudagrass and Zoysia, aerate in late spring or early summer when grass is growing most vigorously.

Should I spike my lawn?

Spike your turf between 2 inches (5 cm) to 6 inches (15 cm) using a rolling lawn aerator, lawn aerating sandals, or a garden fork. You can repeat this process once every couple of months. You should, however, avoid spiking wet soil that smears and when you notice that frost is imminent as your tools can get stuck.

What type of aerator is best?

Since plug aerators are a must for clay soils and can be used on looser soils as well, this durable, all-steel construction aerator with “no-flat” tires is our best overall choice. The 40-inch width and 24 3-inch plugs help cover large areas quickly.

Can you aerate your lawn too much?

Especially thick types of grass may also call for aerating more frequently. As a general rule, you shouldn't need to aerate more than once a year at any time ("too much of a good thing" applies here, since you don't want to damage your soil).

Should I pick up plugs after aerating?

– The Short Answer. The consensus is that no, you should not pick up plugs or cores after aerating. In a few days, these little pieces of your lawn should break down and become unnoticeable. This process is aided by watering your lawn deeply after aerating or waiting to aerate before it rains.

What month Should I 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.

When should you not aerate your lawn?

Spring is not the ideal time to aerate the lawn, but circumstances may require it. If the soil is so compacted that existing grass can't grow, it may be necessary to aerate in the spring. 1 Generally, though, spring aerating is discouraged because the aeration holes provide a perfect spot for weed seeds to germinate.

Should I mow lawn before aerating?

Before you aerate, mow your lawn low (Timberline lawn experts recommend setting your mower to about 1.5-2 inches above the ground to maximize the effectiveness of aerating, being sure to not scalp the crown of the grass.) You will want to water one to three days before aerating.

Should I seed before aerating?

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 you plan on doing this, make sure you use a starter fertilizer that's appropriate for your grass and growing conditions that does not contain any weed control.

How deep should you aerate your lawn?

Cut out a square foot section of lawn at least 6 inches deep. If grass roots are growing only 1 to 2 inches deep, your soil may be compacted and aeration could give your roots a boost.

How often should you plug aerate your lawn?

How Frequently Should You Aerate Your Lawn? As for frequency, Friell said aeration should be performed at least once per year on most lawns. Lawns with compacted soil or soil with high clay content may benefit from aeration twice annually.

Should I mow lawn before aerating?

Before you aerate, mow your lawn low (Timberline lawn experts recommend setting your mower to about 1.5-2 inches above the ground to maximize the effectiveness of aerating, being sure to not scalp the crown of the grass.) You will want to water one to three days before aerating.

Should I aerate or dethatch first?

It is best to dethatch first before aerating your lawn. Both dethatching and aerating your lawn will improve air, nutrient, and water penetration into the root zone of your grass. Thatch is the main problem these two processes address.

How often should you plug aerate your lawn?

How Frequently Should You Aerate Your Lawn? As for frequency, Friell said aeration should be performed at least once per year on most lawns. Lawns with compacted soil or soil with high clay content may benefit from aeration twice annually.

Should I Overseed After aerating?

After the aeration is done, the overseeding can be done. This is done by spreading grass seeds uniformly over the entire yard. Extra grass seeds can be spread in areas that are thin or damaged. The grass should be watered regularly after this is done to ensure the seeds can grow.

Preventing Soil Compaction

Ideally, the best way to avoid turf problems due to compacted soils is to alleviate any compaction prior to turf establishment. However, this may not always be feasible. If the situation arises where an established turf is planted on a soil prone to compaction, consider the following tips:

Benefits of Core Aeration

Loosens compacted soil and increases the availability of water and nutrients.

Timing

The type of grass will determine whether to aerify in the fall or in the summer. Lawns composed of cool-season grasses such as Kentucky bluegrass and tall fescue are best aerified in the fall, when there is less heat stress and danger of invasion by weedy annuals.

Small Areas

Aerification is not expensive. The simplest and cheapest way to aerify a small lawn is with a spading fork. Push the tines into the soil as far as you can (at least 4 inches) and rock the fork back and forth to enlarge the holes. This movement will loosen up the soil and make room for new grass roots.

Large Areas

Aerifying larger lawns requires a power-driven core aerator or aerifier, which can be rented at lawn and garden supply centers or equipment rental centers. The working parts of these machines are spoon-shaped tines or hollow tubes. As the tubes are driven into the lawn, cores of soil are removed from the ground and strewn across the lawn.

Aerifying & Reseeding

Aerification can be combined with seeding, particularly on sparse or bare areas. If you are going to seed the lawn, you should make six to 10 passes over the area with a machine. You need to produce a number of holes, at least 4 inches apart, to improve the appearance and density of the stand. Allow the holes about a month to heal before seeding.

Aerifying & Weed Control

When using a preemergent weed control program for annual weed control, do not apply a preemergent weed control product before aerifying. The aerifying process will open up the protective layer of herbicide and allow weeds to grow.

How many types of spike aerators are there?

You may be wondering if spike aerators really work, how spike aerators compare to lawn aerators, and which ones will work the best for my lawn? The truth is there are five different types of spike lawn aerators. Some on them have little or no positive effects on your lawn. Some help out a ton.

What are the disadvantages of hand and foot push spikes?

They are durable, affordable and you will get great results. The only disadvantage to these is that they are extremely time consuming and strenuous to use. 5) The rolling barrel spike aerator.

How does a spike aerator work?

Spike aerators work by pushing holes into the ground. Unfortunately, this is worse for areas of your lawn that get high traffic.

What is a Plug Aerator?

Similar to a spike aerator, plug aerators churn up your lawn to promote airflow and increase growth. However, plug aerators dig much deeper into the ground and create larger holes than a spike aerator.

What is the best tool to aerate a lawn?

There are two main tools for aerating your lawn: a spike aerator and the best pull behind plug aerator. Both make your yard stronger and lusher, but they do so in slightly different ways. In addition, each tool is unique so just because you’ve used one doesn’t mean you know everything about the other one.

Can a plug aerator pull up?

Another important thing is the condition of your soil. Plug aerators work best on moist soil. If the soil is too dry, a plug aerator won’t be able to pull it up. If the soil is too saturated, though, it will get stuck in the aerator tines. You’ll have to be pretty familiar with your soil conditions when using a plug aerator or you could run into problems.

Is a spike aerator the same as a plug aerator?

Spike aerators and plug aerators are very different, which means choosing between them is essential. You won’t get the same benefits with a spike aerator that you will with a plug aerator and vice versa.

Do plug aerators work on small lawns?

No matter what size lawn you have, a plug aerator is best if it has lots of foot traffic during the day. Even for small lawns, this is true. Your soil will compact faster when it has more foot traffic, and plug aerators slow down the process.

Can you use a spike aerator at any time of year?

They won’t churn up grass or cut through grass roots, so they can be used at any time of the year. You don’t have to wait for specific times of the year where your lawn will be growing quickest as they won’t be nearly as hard on it.

Soil Composition

Spike and plug aerators are used to alleviate the negative affects of compacted soil on your lawn. Soils that have a heavy clay content are more likely to become compacted, limiting the ability of the roots in your lawn to access oxygen.

Soil Conditions

Plug aerators require specific conditions in order to function properly. The best time to use a plug aerator is when the soil is moist but not saturated with water. During dry conditions the soil crumbles inside of the tines, preventing the plug aerator from removing the plugs from the ground. During wet conditions the soil lodges inside the tines.

Impact

Plug aerators remove part of the soil from the root zone of your lawn. This process improves the structure of your soil in the long run but puts stress on your grass in the short term. The best time to use a plug aerator is during the active growing season of your lawn.

Considerations

Plug aerators are the most effective when they are used annually for at least three consecutive years. Spike aerators provide a more temporary benefit that is offset by the compaction that occurs around the sides of the holes the spike aerators leave.

What are Lawn Aerator Shoes?

Lawn aerator shoes are basically shoes that have spikes on the bottom that—in theory—help to aerate the lawn while you walk around the lawn doing yard work or mowing. The shoes aren’t necessarily shoes, but more like sandals you strap over your existing shoes.

How does aerating help the lawn?

It helps by allowing oxygen to reach turf roots, helping water soak into the soil more efficiently, loosening compacted soil and helping fertilizers come in contact with grass roots.

What is the Best Way to Aerate Your Lawn?

If you plan on aerating your lawn yourself, look for an aerator that has hollow spikes, such as the Yard Butler lawn coring aerator. The hollow spikes will reduce soil compaction and help create a pathway for moisture and fertilizer.

Why do you aerate your lawn?

Aerating is a process in which you make holes in the lawn, along with the soil underneath .

Is every editorial product independently selected?

Every editorial product is independently selected, though we may be compensated or receive an affiliate commission if you buy something through our links. Ratings and prices are accurate and items are in stock as of time of publication.

Do lawn aerators push the soil?

Since the spikes on lawn aerator shoes are solid opposed to being hollow, they tend to push the soil to the side and downward when they enter the lawn, compacting the soil even more.

Preventing Soil Compaction

Benefits of CORE Aeration

Timing

Small Areas

Large Areas

Aerifying & Reseeding

Aerifying & Weed Control