Lawn Core Aerator: Green Grass In ½ The Time.

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By nadejshda

Why are Core Aerators so Important

Do you want to have a green lawn? Have you though much about aerating it? Aerating can really help, especially if you aerate your lawn with a core aerator

Choosing the right lawn core aerator is essential for healthy green grass. Using the right tools makes any job easier. So you must choose the right lawn aerator for your needs.

Manual lawn aerators are also popular among people who have very small lawn areas. These aerators also pull cores from your lawn, but you will be more likely to get 1-3 inch cores. With a manual core aerator you must prepare your lawn in advance & aerate only during the seasons of the year when the ground is soft, otherwise you will not get enough benefit because your cores will be very shallow. You will have to buy your own manual aerator (or borrow from a neighbor), but don’t try to aerate your yard with one unless it is smaller than 500 square feet, or you have a few days to spend on it.

The most popular type of lawn aerator is a core aerator. These machines usually weigh from 200-300 lbs. They are large and do the job quickly & efficiently. They are almost all core aerators & if done properly can pull out 2-4 inch cores from your lawn. You can rent a mechanical lawn aerator from a local Home Depot or rental shop, or you can hire a local landscaper to do the aeration for you. Most machine aerators are very durable and so it may not be worth it to get the insurance coverage when renting them, but you be the judge.

I helped make the video below to explain it better.

More Core Aerators

Yard Butler D-6C Manual Lawn Coring Aerator
Amazon Price: $23.32
List Price: $24.99
Step 'N Tilt Lawn Core Aerator without Container
Amazon Price: $59.95
Step 'N Tilt Lawn Core Aerator with Container
Amazon Price: $71.95

Manual spike aerators are sold all over the place. These are lawn aerators that work by punching holes into your lawn rather than taking small cores out of your lawn. Spike aerators are a lot easier to use on hard lawns & during the summer when the ground is a lot harder. The lawn aerator will usually put holes 2-3 inches deep. However, spike aerators are not as effective as core aerators. You will also have to buy a manual spike aerator, if you think it is the best for you. Again, if your lawn is over 500 square feet, you will be dedicating a lot of time to aerating it by hand.

Liquid lawn aerators are a very different lawn aerator. They are known as surfactants and work similar to a soil conditioner. They claim that you only need to use them one time per year; however that is if you have a perfect lawn to begin with. You will need to use it at monthly followed by topdressing for the first year, every 2 months w/ topdressing the 2nd year, and every 4 months and a top dressing the following year. After the 3rd year your lawn should be in a place to benefit from liquid aeration just one time annually. The advantage to liquid aerators is they have humic acid in them which breaks down any toxins you may have in your yard from pesticide & herbicide treatments. Liquid aerators also move sodium out of the root zone of the grass which helps the health of the grass immensely. You will have to buy the liquid aeration each time you plan to aerate. The aeration formula usually comes in a small bottle that will hook up to your hose & you put it on while watering your lawn. You do have to put it on by hand though (you won’t be able to use a sprinkler system). However, even if you have a larger yard, it shouldn’t take you too long to use a liquid lawn aerator.

Whatever method of core aerators you choose to aerate your lawn with, be sure it fits your lawn & your lifestyle. I would highly recommend using either a core aerator or a liquid aerator. Just be sure that the liquid aerator is organic and of high quality.

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Comments

Luis - Lawn Mower Guy 21 months ago

which brand of aerator would you recommend?

Simon - Spring lawn care 15 months ago

Great hub with lots of useful information. After core aeration do you recommend cleaning up the cores or leaving them on the surface to break down naturally?

ellahall2011 profile image

ellahall2011 7 months ago

Thanks for more information, very nice hub.

Georgia Lawn profile image

Georgia Lawn 6 months ago

Here at http://GeorgiaLawn.com we only use the Plugger brand aerators. They are a type of core aerator that uses a cam shaft to pull plugs from the ground instead of a heavy drum aerator that can and often does tear up the yard.

nadejshda profile image

nadejshda Hub Author 4 months ago

the best band of aerator is a Ryan IV. it does a great job at making blogs, and it is easy to control. Plus it lasts a longtime. I have used Billy goat, bluebirds, and Ryan extensively. If you are going to rent one, make sure it is a core aerator.

nadejshda profile image

nadejshda Hub Author 4 months ago

great question! unless you more your grass really short, I recommend that you leave your plugs. Sometimes people do not want to have them in their backyard, where their kids and their pets play, and if that is the case, you also want to break them up. But you don't have to rake them, and if you can leave them, they will out a little bit of topsoil to your lawn and help to break down thatch buildup.

nadejshda profile image

nadejshda Hub Author 4 months ago

@ georgia lawn. I think the heavy drum aerator is better :)because it doesn't break down very much. Rolling Drum lawn aerators do not tear up lawns, ( unless you how to use them properly.)

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