Simple Steps for a DIY Rolling Lawn Aerator
- Drill holes around your bucket, aiming for around three inches of space between each hole. These will form the holes...
- Make a mark at the bottom of the bucket in the center.
- Insert your chosen spikes into each of the holes with the pointed end sticking out of the bucket.
- Drill a hole into the bottom of the bucket where you...
How to make a homemade aerator?
What Do You Need to Build your Own Pond Aerator?
- Standard pond pump
- Small fountain spring
- PVC pipe
- Rigid tubing
- Measuring unit
- PVC cutter
How to start a Lawn aeration business?
Part 3 Part 3 of 3: Helping Your Business Flourish Download Article
- Brand your business. You need a logo to help your company stand out. ...
- Market your product. You have several options for putting your name out there. ...
- Consider flyers. For a lawn business, flyers make sense. ...
- Create a website. A website represents you to the customers. ...
- Consider off season work. In most places, the lawn business is seasonal work. ...
How do you make homemade lawn fertilizer?
Recipe #1
- 1 can non-diet soda
- 1 can beer
- ½ cup (118 mL) dish soap (NOT antibacterial)
- ½ cup (118 mL) ammonia
- ½ cup (118 mL) mouthwash
- 10 gallons (38 L) of water
Why, when and how to aerate your lawn?
- Thatch
- Fallen or dead leaves
- Clamped or compacted soil

Can you make your own lawn aerator?
You can make this simple DIY lawn aerator with strips of reclaimed wood. You just have to find a base – PVC pipe filled with sand or concrete works well – and then add your strips of wood. The wood houses the nails that you use to aerate the lawn.
What can I use if I don't have an aerator?
Using a fork A fork can be a useful tool for aerating your lawn. The process is more or less like spike aeration. It is an effective method because it penetrates compacted soils efficiently to loosen the particles, and if you already own a fork, you don't have to spend more money on new tools to aerate your lawn.
How do I aerate my lawn without a machine?
How to Aerate Your Lawn Without MachinesPush a hand aerifier, which has tube hollows that are 1/4 to 1/2 inch in diameter, or a spading fork through your lawn grass and into the soil. ... Rake the lawn if it is heavily thatched. ... Push a hand aerifier's hollow tubes into the grass' soil, and pull them out of the soil.More items...•
What's the easiest way to aerate your lawn?
0:061:40How to aerate your lawn - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSimply insert the fork into the lawn. And punch holes into the soil giving the fork or wiggle toMoreSimply insert the fork into the lawn. And punch holes into the soil giving the fork or wiggle to better fracture the soil in order to achieve adequate aeration.
Can I aerate my lawn with a screwdriver?
Yep, a screwdriver! Flathead or Phillips, it doesn't matter—take the screwdriver and insert the head into the soil. If the screwdriver can't be inserted very easily when the soil is moist, then your lawn likely needs a little TLC (aerating and fertilizing).
What is the best tool to aerate your lawn?
The Best Lawn Aerators of 2022Plantnomics Lawn Aerator Shoes with Hook-and-Loop.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. ... Best Heavy-Duty. ... Best Shoe Aerator. ... Best Overall.More items...•
Can I use a pitchfork to aerate my lawn?
Aerating Lawn Tools You can aerate a lawn with many different tools. The most inexpensive way is with a pitchfork or spading fork. This tool is most useful for aerating smaller areas. Simply punch holes as deep as possible in the turf layer and then rock the fork to enlarge the holes.
How do I aerate my lawn with a fork?
Must-Have Aeration Tool 1: The Garden Fork To use it, go over your lawn carefully with the fork. Push the tines down about four inches and wiggle the fork a bit to widen the holes. Continue this process every four inches or so, stabbing and wiggling your way across the lawn.
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.
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 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.
Which is better plug or spike aerator?
Instead, it uses wedge-shaped spikes to pierce holes into the soil. This method has some drawbacks, however: because of the way a spike aerator makes holes, it can actually cause even more soil compaction. A plug aerator is generally a better choice, especially for heavy, thick soil with a lot of clay.
How can I aerate my lawn cheaply?
0:003:19Homemade lawn aerator - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWe're gonna give you a quick tutorial on how to make your own aerating. Tool for your lawn. KnowMoreWe're gonna give you a quick tutorial on how to make your own aerating. Tool for your lawn. Know lawn care professional. But what I've heard is that this allows more oxygen back into the soil.
Can you aerate by hand?
1:108:48Hand Aerator for Lawn - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIf you've got construction debris under your lawn or you've got a spot that just dries outMoreIf you've got construction debris under your lawn or you've got a spot that just dries out consistently you can actually pull the cores and leave them open or fill those cores up with organic matter
Can you aerate lawn with garden fork?
For small lawns, a normal garden fork will be all right to aerate your lawn. Just push it in between four or five inches deep and pull back, so the grass lifts a little. Pull it back out, move back about six inches, and then do exactly the same again.
Can you aerate with a shovel?
0:122:53Hand Aerating Your Lawn - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWe call them round nose shovels but use a pointy one it's easier to to work with it gets in thereMoreWe call them round nose shovels but use a pointy one it's easier to to work with it gets in there better. And you just put your weight into.
How to keep aerators vertical?
Put the spikes in between the supports after you have laid the supports on the ground. Keep the spikes of the aerators vertical at all times.
Where do you drill holes in an aerator?
This is the spot where nails (aerator spikes) are going to be placed. So, drill small holes at these intersection points on the top of this aerator wooden board.
What screws are used for spike rakes?
Aerator eye screws are used in coincidence with the 3 prongs. If the spike garden rake’s head is shorter than the spike lawn aerator, that’s no problem. Simply make sure the spike lawn aerators’ holders fit well.
Can aerator spikes be hammered?
Aerator spikes can be hammered into the pre-drilled holes easily and will be more vertical as a result. Besides preventing cracks and splinters of the wood, it will also help it last longer.
Can a lawn aerator be injured?
Aerator garden lawns safely by following safety precautions. It is possible to be injured by pointed nails. So, it’s advisable to keep homemade lawn aerator in a protective cover so that the risk of injuries occurring due to lawn aerator significantly reduces.
How does aeration work?
Aeration helps to create openings in the turf and soil that allows water and air to penetrate the roots of your grass and makes them healthier. This in turn, turns your lawn into a lush, beautiful green blanket that would rival any golf course. So, when I found out how good aeration is for my lawn, I started looking into aerators.
How long does it take to make a wood lawn mower handle?
You can add a handle from an old lawn mower or something similar to make pushing it through the yard simple. This one only takes a couple of hours to make and it works like a charm. YouTube.
Is a lawn aerator cheap?
Let me tell you, a lawn aerator is not cheap. Even the seemingly cheaper ones are pretty costly, so what did I do? I started looking for DIY lawn aerators. I found seven great DIY aerators that all work perfectly to make your lawn lush and beautiful. Whether you want something that is going to cover a lot of space at once or you just need something simple that will allow that air and water to get to the roots of your grass, there is a DIY lawn aerator that is perfect for your lawn. And if you haven’t yet, be sure that you get a look at these 12 near genius IKEA hacks for your lawn and garden.
Step 1: Materials
Empty sheet rock bucket. I used a shorter one, because I feared that a taller one would be too heavy to roll. Nails. Because this is a prototype, I used some old common 8d nails I had around. They bend easily, and rust. When I remake this, I'm going to use something more solid (rail road spikes!). Quikrete. I had an old sack laying around the barn.
Step 4: Attach the Rolling Mace to the Handle
Now that you have a dangerous rolling mace made of concrete and nails, you have to move it around the lawn. Using an old lawn mower handle salvaged from a dead mower, I simply put an axle through the pipe and attached it. Put some washers between the pipe and the handle, although I found it unnecessary because my entire set-up was so loose.
Step 5: Afterthoughts
As you can see from the photo, the nails bent. They were pretty small; I'm not surprised, but as a prototype it taught me a lot. You want bigger nails. I would use railroad spikes or big bolts if I can find them. I figure five across, five or six rows for a total of thirty.
What is the best way to aerate a small yard?
If you’re only looking to aerate a small yard or lawn, a hand aerator will be your best option. They resemble a rake and are used in quite the same manner. However, even though they’re incredibly cheap they take a lot of effort to utilize properly and can cause fatigue and strain if you’re working on a larger yard.
How does aerating your lawn help your grass?
It’s an easy, simple, and quick process that can reap your garden or lawn massive benefits in a comparatively short amount of time. Aerating your soil involves perforating it with small holes in order to allow water, essential plant nutrients, and air to penetrate your grass’ roots. In this way, aerating your lawn can help your grass’ roots grow ...
Why Aerate Soil?
It takes a very gradual onset and destroys all of your hard work before you even realize what it’s done – in other words, it’s a pest. If not adequately cared for, it can even cause runoff water that can’t penetrate the ground to end up flooding your basement. But what is it?
How much does a spike aerator cost?
Spike aerators are a different animal entirely because they can cost anywhere from $10-$600. They work by penetrating the soil, leaving small holes in the ground. The price of a spike aerator depends entirely on the model, size, and features the tool offers, but spikes are its prevalent feature. Depending on how much money you want to spend, a spike aerator can be a great way to easily and cheaply aerate your lawn.
How much do aerator shoes cost?
They’re intended to be worn over normal sneakers or shoes when you need to take care of your lawn, and straps help secure them in place. The spikes create holes in the lawn surface, thereby allowing air, nutrients, and water to flow through soil and to grass roots properly. These shoes can retail for $20-30.
What is the difference between aerating and dethatching a lawn?
Rather, dethatching your lawn involves removing the thick layer of plant material resting on top of the soil. By comparison, aerating your lawn involves poking holes in the soil to allow more airflow and nutrient absorption for your grass.
Why is my lawn yellow?
Seeing this means your lawn is dehydrated and not getting enough water because water cannot penetrate through the soil to the grass roots. Clay soil is much more likely than sand-based soil to have this issue.
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 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.
How to prevent bare patches in lawn?
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. Poor root health equals sickly-looking grass.
What is the purpose of aeration in lawns?
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.
How wide are the plugs on a sprinkler system?
The 40-inch width and 24 3-inch plugs help cover large areas quickly. A weight tray holds up to 150 pounds of concrete blocks to ensure adequate ground penetration. An easy-to-use transport lever allows you to disengage the plugs quickly to avoid sidewalks or sprinkler components.
Can you use a liquid aerator on a small lawn?
Large aerators aren’t practical if you have a small lawn or strip of grass that needs help. Fortunately, you can still loosen the soil by using a liquid aerator like Simple Lawn Solutions. The proprietary mixture of surfactants and other ingredients breaks apart soil colloids to improve water and nutrient absorption.
Can agrifab aerator be used with a lawn tractor?
Requires large storage space. Since sandy soils are much easier to aerate than clay soils, the Agri- Fab Spike Aerator is a great choice. With 10 spikes and a weight tray that can hold 100-pounds of balance weight, it has a universal hitch that will work with any lawn tractor or UTV.
