OK, you’re unlikely to see aeration sandalson the catwalk during London Fashion Week, but they’re an easy way to aerate smaller lawns. Cordless aerators: Lightweight, quiet and an environmentally-friendly alternative to petrol types, the downside to buying cordless tools is that they can cost more, and the batteries and chargers are sometimes an additional cost. While they don’t have a restrictive cable and are therefore ideal for accessing all areas of the garden, it’s important to be aware of their charge and run times, as this could limit their effectiveness if you have a larger garden. There are liquid aerationproducts available, which you simply water onto your lawn. But the verdict is still out – most experts refute the claim that liquid aerator products alleviate compaction by breaking down dense soil. If you’ve got a large area of grass, consider an electric aerator with a working width over 36 cm. Electric aerators require less manual labour, and often have a scarifying function, providing two services in one. For medium lawns, look for an electric aerator with a working width over 30 cm. You could also use a manual rolling aerator if you don’t want the hassle of cables.

The best advice we can give is: look at your grass. If a moss or thatch layer has developed on the soil surface, it will prevent water penetration. In that case, aeration or scarificationis needed. What is the best way to aerate a lawn? Aeration with solid spikes using equipment such as the garden fork, aerator sandals or shoes, rolling lawn aerators or powered machinery is generally done to a depth between 1 and 6 inches, with the top two inches being the most important. There are also star like slitters that can be inserted as a cassette into turf machinery or towed behind ride-on mowers or lawn tractors. Both the aerator and scarifier functions work well. In most cases, this machine will aerate and scarify at the same time (depending on the height setting it is set to). The scarifier is very capable of removing large amounts of moss and lawn thatch. There are 42 stainless steel claws on the roller which help produce this result. Both commercial and ride-on aerators come with hollow tines so you’ll be pulling up plugs of soil instead of just spiking, which promotes more effective aeration and health of There are many lawn aerators to choose from and all are built with a particular type of garden in mind. To help you decide I have outlined the different types of lawn aerators below, and explained who they are best suited to. For more tips on Lawn Aeration see my article Lawn Aeration Tips. Benefits of Lawn AerationDethatching, also known as scarifying, is a process where the excess thatch is raked out and removed from the lawn. This is something I have done many times, and I suggest gardeners do this once a year as it can really help to let the lawn breathe. If you have a small yard, a handheld aerator is a great affordable option—this type of tool is generally much easier to store and can get into tight places where a tow-behind aerator cannot go. We like the Yard Butler Lawn Coring Aerator because it is both lightweight and durable. Like many handheld aerators, it does require physical effort and only covers a small area at a time, but when used, it can loosen the compacted soil and dethatch your lawn, so vital nutrients can get through. Plug lawn aerators can be more tiring to use than rotary spiked aerators. Pushing a plug lawn aerator into the ground can require quite a lot of force, as can pulling it out again. A certain amount of upper body force is required, and this method can be too physically demanding for some people. By appearance, the Kingfisher RC401 resembles a pitchfork. However, there are certain features that make it different. First things first, unlike regular pitchforks, the tines on this tool are hollow inside and have pointed tips, which allows you to push them deeper into the ground for better aeration. And secondly, it has a sturdy horizontal crossbar above the spikes where you can rest your foot to push the fork, making the whole process much more convenient. When it comes to the frequency with which you should be aerating your lawn, that all depends on the grass itself. Newer lawns need more aeration because their root systems are less than mature, a process which is boosted by regular aeration. If you have a new non-established lawn, it’s prudent to aerate twice a year.

Aim for 10-15cm in depth for adequate aeration. If you’re using a spiked roller or aeration sandals, ensure that the entire spike sinks into the earth. Roller spike aerators are the most popular type of lawn aerator. Many are simply pushed across the lawn. As the roller rotates, the spikes are pushed into the ground. Spiked lawn aerators are either manual or electric.Although it’s less powerful than the Hyundai HYSC1500E aerator on paper, it doesn’t feel that way in the garden. The Einhell’s 1200 W motor could probably cope with larger gardens as well, even though the machine is designed for smaller areas. The maximum working width of both attachments is 32 cm, which allows the aerator to make wider paths in one go and cover bigger areas in a shorter amount of time. Don’t overlook the possibility of adjusting the working depth, an ergonomic handle with a non-slip grip, and manoeuvrable wheels for hassle-free navigation.

For small or medium-sized lawns, manual aeration is the perfect option. For more extensive lawns, you might consider opting for a mechanical approach. Spike roller If you’ve got a small to medium size garden and you’re after an electric machine, the Einhell GC-SA 1231/1 Electric 2-in-1 Scarifier And Lawn Aerator is well worth considering. This model works as both a scarifier and a lawn aerator and has a 31 cm width. There are anti-slip pads on the part of the shoe that connects to the sole of your own shoes, helping to prevent slipping. For more high maintenance patches, the aeration process breaks through the thatch layer of interwoven dead and living stems, roots, and leaves that grow between your grass and the soil feeding it underneath. Although this Swardman Professional Stainless Steel Hollow Tine Lawn Aerator is more expensive than the other hollow tine aerators featured here, it’s been designed to last a lifetime. It’s made from pure stainless steel and has three hollow tines that are easy to empty.They are simple, cheap and work really well if you get a decent pair and the only thing that lets them down is that they require you to walk around the garden for quite a long time and it can be quite tiring – from my perspective as I mention above it’s a great opportunity for exercise and clearing a chore. I like the look of the ABREOME Lawn Aerator Shoes. Fork aerators will hollow tines I 100% recommend lawn aeration, but I don’t see the need to do it more than once a year, and in my opinion, it will benefit lawns that are hard and compacted the most.