Updated Jul. 29, 2024
For serious lawn care aficionados, an aerator is an ace up their sleeve. If you're ready to get serious, check out the best lawn aerator on the market.
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Put plainly, a lawn aerator is a device that pokes holes in a lawn’s surface so the ground can breathe. It works by coring out pieces of soil, which allows water and fertilizer to reach the grassroots under the turf. And there are a lot of benefits to it. According to Dr. Roger May, the Michigan Region Technical Manager for TruGreen, “Aeration relieves compaction, helps water and air to reach the root system and promotes a vigorous root system.” In addition to breaking up compaction, lawn aerators are excellent for managing lawn thatch and promoting seed germination.
Unfortunately, recreational use, heavy foot traffic, pets and riding lawnmowers all contribute to compacting the soil under your lawn. Luckily, that can be undone with aeration. With that in mind, it’s clear you need a lawn aerator in your life (and yard). But which one? Luckily, Family Handyman is here to help. We’ve carefully analyzed the options and found the best lawn aerators on the market. Check out our picks below:
VIA MERCHANT
While you’re slice-aerating your yard, you can double down on your effort by applying soil amendments like lime or gypsum or by overseeding your lawn in one pass. Need a machine to help you do just that? Check out the Agri-Fab Tow Aerator for the most versatile lawn aerator around. We’re impressed with the eight galvanized steel spike disks (slicing blades), the agitator that resists rust, and the robust 10-inch flat-free wheels that make it easier to tow.
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VIA MERCHANT
Open up the full potential of your lawn and get exercise while you’re at it when you strap on these fun and affordable lawn aerator sandals. The adjustable cleats work on most sizes of men’s or women’s shoes. They even come with their own shovel to clean any dirt that sticks to the soles of the shoes. Why not wear ’em while mowing the lawn to be sure you cover every inch of grass? The possibilities are endless.
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VIA MERCHANT
Sometimes the simpler the tool the better. Aerate your lawn without all the bells and whistles with the True Temper Digging Fork. This tool might need a little extra effort to punch the holes, but it does the trick. It’s outrageously simple, yet quick and effective—ideal for working in small, targeted areas that need special attention.
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VIA MERCHANT
With this tow-behind plug aerator, you’ll open up the soil to create a channel for air, water, fertilizer and grass seeds to get into the ground. It comes with 32 rust-resistant galvanized knives, and a built-in tray allows you to add up to 140 pounds of weight to achieve soil penetration up the three inches deep.
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VIA MERCHANT
Get your lawn ready for spring with this powder-coated steel coring aerator built to last. The 37-inch aerator uses a foot bar for extra leverage, so there’s no need to “put your back into it.” With a quick and easy push, it removes two 3-inch grass plugs in one motion.
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VIA MERCHANT
The Simple Lawn Solutions Liquid Soil Loosener is an easy alternative to manual or mechanical aerators. It treats the soil, breaks down the thatch, reduces compaction, and promotes water drainage and filtration as it softens the lawn. Whether you want to use this loosener in tandem with other aerators or on it’s own, it’s sure to impress. Oh, and did we mention it works on all grass types? Consider us sold.
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There’s much to consider before getting your first lawn aerator. Can you handle the physical task of operating a manual aerator over a gas- or electric-powered option? If you own a lawn tractor or riding lawnmower, a tow-behind lawn aerator might be the way to go. Do you prefer plug- or spike-style aerators? How much are you willing to spend? How much storage space do you have in the garage or shed to store the aerator? These are all important questions to ask yourself before purchasing a lawn aerator of any kind. We’ve parsed through the considerations more in-depth below:
Dr. May states, “Aerators are fairly simple machines to use, but they do require skill to operate.” While simple in concept, they can be heavy and potentially damaging to your turf should you turn the machine poorly, overdo (or underdo) the job, etc. While hand-operated aerators are sometimes more painstaking to use (due to their manual nature), they do allow for more care and precision than their larger counterparts.
Are you trying to aerate a small patch of grass or a whole yard? For the former, a smaller, hand-operated aerator is probably fine. But the latter might necessitate a larger option, like a tow-behind mower.
Dr. May suggests that “most lawns will benefit from a yearly aeration.” Since this is going to be a project you take on annually, you’ll want to make sure your aerator of choice is up for the task—and that you’re not going to be frustrated by it, too. This kind of goes hand-in-hand with the size consideration above in that an aerator that can handle bigger jobs might help alleviate your stress when you actually have to use it.
It’s also worth noting that different types of lawns will benefit from aeration at different times of year. Warm-season grasses are best aerated from May to August, whereas cool-season grasses benefit most in the early spring and late fall.
If your lawn is particularly swampy, aeration probably won’t do you much good, as any holes you make in the soil will likely fill with mud. Similarly, an overly dry lawn will have hard soil that’s difficult to penetrate, so it will not see much in the way of benefits and may require a lot of backbreaking work. If your lawn is in either of these extremes, you may wish to consult a professional to get their opinion on the matter before doing any work.
You might think this seems like a lot of work for little payoff, but myriad benefits to aerating your lawn could keep your yard healthy and looking great year in and year out. As Dr. May informed us, aeration helps with soil compaction, thatch management, increased nutrient availability and balancing the soil’s pH and can even lead to a thicker, healthier lawn. And who doesn’t love a good, healthy lawn in the warmer months of the year?
You don’t have to buy a lawn aerator to keep your lawn healthy. You can always hire landscapers to do the job. Keep in mind, however, that this will cost you more overall, especially if you want your lawn regularly aerated (and the pros say you should be doing it at least once a year). It’s also worth noting that a professional job comes with professional results (especially if your contractors are reputable), so that’s also worth considering.
Lawn aerators come in different varieties. Check them out below:
The most basic type of aerator requires the user to fully operate the tool by hand. They may be static (like a pitchfork) or wheeled (like a push lawnmower). They can be very physically demanding but are usually the most affordable option. If you don’t mind the manual labor, this category is probably the best bang for your buck.
Aerator shoesare wearable cleats you attach to your regular shoes, usually with spikes on the bottom that dig into the soil beneath your feet to aerate your lawn. While they are more convenient than manual/handheld aerators, they may also be less efficient. They can acquire a soil buildup as you use them, forcing you to frequently clean them off as you use them (and thereby undoing some of their proposed convenience).
These can be pulled behind your lawn tractor or riding lawnmower. Think of them as larger versions of push-mower-style manual lawn aerators. The downside is that they can be quite expensive and take up a lot of space (and you’ll need dedicated storage to keep one on your property). However, they are highly efficient and very easy to use, as your tractor or mower will do most of the work.
Typically, the largest lawn aerators tend to be multi-taskers that not only make holes but also sow seeds and spread fertilizer at the same time. They’re also by far the most expensive version, both in their initial cost and their operation cost and upkeep. This is the kind of aerator you’ll only want if you have frequent, sizeable jobs—like a farmer might. Remember that an electric model will require a constant connection to a power source (a cable plugged into an outlet), while gas-powered options offer a bit more freedom. There are also cordless versions, which offer much freedom but usually have long charging times.
Liquid aeration is an easy-to-use fortified solution that breaks down soil particles. There are pros and cons to this method. It’s fairly easy to manage and requires virtually no manual labor, comparatively (you simply spread an organic chemical mixture over your lawn and wait). But it is not as immediately effective as mechanical aeration, and it may be even less effective if your soil is particularly compacted. However, it may be an ideal solution for those with relatively small lawns who don’t mind a higher overall price in favor of simplicity/ease.
There’s a lot to consider when searching for the best lawn aerator, so we took a top-down look at the category, starting with the range of brands in the space with solid reputations. Then, we closely examined the range of available lawn aerators—including their formats (manual, tow, electric, etc.), size, price, etc.—and further narrowed down our range of options. Finally, we consulted experts and researched the customer experience to ensure our final list was comprised of various formats and budgets but still met our expectations for quality, durability and reliability.
After a decade in the DIY and furniture space, I parsed my expertise into a successful writing career, specializing in home improvement (both inside and out), DIY, landscaping and garden, outdoors and camping and more. I have also been published in an array of time-tested, trustworthy publications, including The Telegraph, Fodor’s, Italy Magazine, DK Eyewitness Travel Guides, Orvieto or Bust, and Family Handyman.
For this article, I also consulted Dr. Roger May, the Michigan Region Technical Manager for TruGreen—responsible for overseeing operations in 16 branches across Michigan and developing horticulture and agronomic programs for the state. He also tests innovative new products and trains TruGreen employees in advanced lawn care practices and agronomic science at the TruExpert Certification Program.
The optimal time to aerate your lawn is late summer or early fall. This time of year, lawns are most compacted, so aeration helps alleviate tamped-down soil and prepares it for the grass-growing season. After a rainfall, it is a great time to aerate since the ground is soft, allowing for deeper penetration with less effort. We recommend avoiding aerating during the hot summer months, which will only dry out and put undue stress on your lawn.
It’s unnecessary, but mowing the grass down to a few inches will maximize the lawn aerating effectiveness.
Yes. New grassroots will fill in holes left behind after aerating the lawn within a week or so.
Originally Published: March 01, 2023
