Our Guide to Lawn Aeration Equipment
Are you wondering how to choose a lawn aerator? Do lawn aerator shoes really work, or would another tool be a better choice for your outdoor space?
Many people know that their lawn needs to be aerated once or twice a year, but may get overwhelmed by which tool to use for their soil type and garden size. From a garden fork to heavy-duty machinery, there are plenty of options to choose from.
However, not every tool is suitable for every garden. For example, while lawn aerator shoes can be effective for small, lightly compacted areas, using them on a larger, heavily compacted lawn would take a very long time and may not be very effective.
Finding the right tool for your soil type can make all the difference and ensure your lawn gets enough air, water, and nutrients to thrive.
Why the Right Tool Matters
In simple words, aeration is the process of creating small holes in the ground to help loosen compacted soil. This improves drainage and allows air, water, and nutrients to reach your grass’s roots more easily. As a result, your lawn is more resilient and water is less likely to pool on top.
However, choosing the right lawn aeration equipment is key to achieving these results.
Some tools are better suited to deal with lightly compacted soil, while others are designed to handle heavier compaction. Buying or renting the wrong tool can not only waste your money, but also your time, since your lawn will not get the full benefits of aeration.
There is no single best lawn aerator tool for UK gardens. Instead, you need to consider what your lawn needs and then decide on the hollow tine vs. spike aerators.
If you are unsure whether your lawn needs aerating or when the best time to do so is, take a look at our 'Lawn Aeration and Scarification: The Ultimate Guide'.
Spike vs. Hollow Tine Aeration
Spike Aerators
Choose a spike aerator if you have sandy soil or your lawn is only slightly compacted.
Spike aerators poke holes in the ground that are a couple of millimetres wide and several centimetres deep. They are a simple option for routine lawn maintenance and can improve drainage without removing any soil.
However, they are often not effective enough if your lawn is heavily compacted or you have clay soil. This is because the holes created can close up again quickly. Once this happens, the soil can become compacted again, reducing the long-term effect of aeration.
Hollow Tine Aerators
Hollow tine aerators, also called plug aerators, use hollow tubes to remove small plugs of soil. This leaves more space for the surrounding soil to expand into.
The plugs can also be left on the lawn to break down and act as a natural fertiliser. This gives your lawn a little nutrient boost.
The larger holes also encourage better airflow and nutrient absorption and are less likely to close up too quickly.
Manual Tools for Small Gardens
Manual lawn aerators are a great choice if you have a smaller garden or are on a budget.
If you are looking for a spike aerator, your options include a standard garden fork, a rolling spike aerator, and aerator shoes.
A garden fork is usually the most budget-friendly option, as most people already have one. Simply push your tool into the ground 4–5 inches deep, then pull it out, making sure the grass lifts slightly. However, this process can be time-consuming and tiring, even if you only have a small lawn.
A rolling spike aerator is a garden tool with a spiked metal drum or roller attached to a long handle that allows you to push it across a lawn, just as you would a lawnmower. It makes the process easier and less physically demanding, making it suitable for both smaller and medium-sized gardens.
Aerator shoes have spikes on their soles and allow you to walk across your lawn, using your body weight to pierce the soil. While they can be a good option for light maintenance, the spikes are usually shorter than those found on other manual lawn aerators. The process can also take a long time, meaning they are best suited to small areas.
If you are looking for a hollow tine aerator, you can choose from a classic manual hollow tine aerator or a rolling hollow tine lawn aerator.
A manual hollow tine aerator is a hand-powered lawn care tool with a long handle, a foot bar, and several metal tines that are hollow inside. To use it, simply step on the foot bar to insert the tool into the soil, and then pull it up again to extract the soil plugs. Just like with the garden fork, the main drawback to this tool is the physical effort required, which makes it well suited to smaller gardens.
A rolling hollow tine aerator works similarly to the rolling spike aerator, but uses open-ended metal tubes to pull the soil out. This makes it a great option for both small and medium-sized lawns.
Powered Aerators for Large Lawns
If you own a larger lawn, you may consider buying or hiring a powered lawn aerator to make the task easier and quicker.
If you only need to aerate your lawn once or twice a year, hiring a machine may make more sense than buying one, particularly if you have limited storage space. However, if you are a lawn care professional with multiple clients, buying one may work out to be the cheaper option over the years.
When choosing a powered aerator, you need to decide between a hollow tine and a spike machine. You also need to choose between a corded electric, cordless electric, or petrol-powered model.
According to Gardeners’ World, electric corded aerators are ‘lightweight, quiet and often at the budget-end’. These are best suited to small and medium-sized gardens as the cord limits their reach. They also need to stay connected to a power outlet.
If you don’t have a power supply available, or your lawn has areas that would be difficult to access with a restrictive cable, then a cordless electric aerator is a great option. These are more environmentally friendly and quieter than petrol machines. However, their running time is limited and spare batteries or chargers may cost extra.
Petrol aerators are usually the most powerful, making them a great choice if your lawn has any difficult terrain, such as steep slopes. However, they do need petrol and regular servicing to keep them in the best condition possible. This can be expensive and time-consuming.
If none of these sound like the right choice, you can also get tow-behind or tractor-mounted aerators. These are perfect for very large areas as they require minimal effort. Simply attach them and drive them around the area you want to treat. However, unless you already own a tractor, they can be expensive to rent or buy.
The Essential Next Step: Top Dressing
Choosing the correct lawn aeration equipment is key to getting the results that you want for your lawn.
However, once you have aerated your lawn, there are other things that you can do to support your lawn and get the most out of this process.
Start by spreading a thin layer of good-quality topsoil, such as our Enriched Topsoil. This will fill up the holes you created and prevent them from closing again too quickly. To take this even one step further, make sure to overseed your grass once this is done. The topsoil will improve the soil-to-seed contact, which will ensure a good germination rate. Overseeding is great for your lawn as it fills in any bare patches and improves the density of your turf. It can also introduce new varieties of turf into your lawn, making it more resilient to pests and diseases.
For the best results, make sure to use a seed blend that’s designed specifically for the UK climate, such as our Rye Gold Lawn Grass Seed. The carefully balanced mix of perennial ryegrass and two varieties of red fescue makes it an extremely durable combination, perfect for gardens with lots of foot traffic or families with children and pets.
Are you ready to refresh your lawn? Explore our products page today to find everything you need at great prices!
