Best manual lawn aerators according to redditors

Same reason I wear those lawn aeration sandals when I do a flat roof evaluation for a customer. Virtually ensures I'll be getting a call during the next rainstorm for leak repairs! Bonus, there might be enough damage I can sell an entire new roof! Zero to hero in no time flat!

All of this is /s.

I can't wear those things, they hurt my feet.

I killed all my grass/weed without pesticides by covering everything with cardboard weighed down by bricks for 3 weeks. I then watered and used a manual aerator. It all cost about $30.




Yard Butler Lawn Coring Aerator Manual Grass Dethatching Turf Plug Core Aeration Tool ID-6C https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EOMCJD6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_CcuWCbTQNKB10




Burning works and it's way faster. I didn't do that because my area burns easily.

This. For 2k sq ft (which is what I have in my backyard) it will take you about 2-3 hours total of work. Really not that bad at all. Drink a beer and listen to music, podcast, sports, etc. Just water a good amount morning of or day before, it will make it SO much easier.

Alternatively, you can have local landscaping company do it. Prices vary, but typically ~$70-110 USD seems like the average.

Try the lawn butler manual core aerator. https://amazon.com/gp/product/B00EOMCJD6

It actually worked. Spike aeration can supposedly actually increase compaction. I paid $25 new, looks like its 30 now, but warehouse deals has it for 22.

Get this on Amazon. The HD link is OOS. Make sure you saturate your lawn to easily get the cores out. 1 to 1.5 hrs of watering would be good.

https://www.amazon.com/Yard-Butler-Dethatching-Aeration-ID-6C/dp/B00EOMCJD6

Yeah you can rent an aerator, but looking at your yard you might be able to get by with a manual one like this.

I wouldn't mow now. I know we're seeing some crazy weather now, but it won't do you any good until your lawn comes out of dormancy and that's still a bit away.

I have a manual aerator where I step down with my foot to martial he holes.

Like this one: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00EOMCJD6/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1414330297&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40

You may find a used one on Craigslist or similar for around $1000. These seem to only really be made for the commercial market. You can buy a manual one, though.

https://www.amazon.com/Yard-Butler-ID-6C-Coring-Aerator/dp/B00EOMCJD6/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1491416518&sr=8-2&keywords=manual+core+aerator

It’s never gonna be as good as the real thing. You could also spend $20 and try these.

Punchau Lawn Aerator Shoes w/Metal Buckles and 3 Straps - Heavy Duty Spiked Sandals for Aerating Your Lawn or Yard https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ZVKCSGI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_phSTBbWZCQP9X

This for a smaller yard. Spikes compact the soil more by simply pressing it to the sides and down, a core aerator pulls a plug out on top on the grass.

They do make "manual" core aerators, if you have a seriously small lawn:

https://www.amazon.com/Yard-Butler-ID-6C-Coring-Aerator/dp/B00EOMCJD6/ref=zg_bs_3480687011_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=45WH0KW0RF6GT4XNNXVV

> Should I just buy a core aerator and do it manually?

I would. (Assuming you are talking about something like this: https://www.amazon.com/Yard-Butler-ID-6C-Coring-Aerator/dp/B00EOMCJD6)

I have a hand held spike aerator and I can't really say that it helped or did much of anything this season. I've since bought a core aerator with a good grip. I usually have a core aeration service do this but I would also like to have something onsite to do this whenever necessary. It works really well for my soil actually.

https://www.amazon.com/Yard-Butler-ID-6C-Coring-Aerator/dp/B00EOMCJD6/

Here you go, $13

You can buy an aerator

ALEKO LA01 Steel Coring Lawn Aerator with Hollow Tines 35.5 x 11 Inches Green https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CIRYFIA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_UdIMBbQAH7XGE

Premium Lawn Aerator Shoes - Heavy Duty 2” Spiked Sandals for Aerating Your Lawn or Yard - Revive Your Lawn Roots with Lawn Aerator Shoes - Comes with a Weed Pulling Tool https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071S1SPZN/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_DSIMBb150DS30

For manual stomp aerator, are you talking about something like this? I was told that things like this are essentially worthless because they don't pull any plugs.

What about this for a dethatcher?

Thanks for that. It's encouraging. I have a couple follow up questions:

With aeration do I need one of those big power ones or will something like this work? I don't have a riding mower/tractor so I can't get one of the tow behind ones.

What's a good percent of KBG? One YouTube video I was watching recommended Jonathan Greene's Black Beauty Ultra but it looks like that's only 10% KBG. Any recommendations on seed?

Yep, this thing. In general, it wasn't terrible, but some of the compacted solid required a bit of force and my hip was jacked up for a few days afterwards.

You could rent one but that would likely be overkill for 900 sq ft. You could buy a manual one like this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EOMCJD6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_2G09ybVGG02FW

My understanding is that core aerators work much better than spike aerators. You could get one of these, but I've heard they can clog pretty easily, especially if you have a lot of clay in your soil. For me, it was actually cheaper to have a lawn care company come out ($50) than it would have been to to rent an actual plug aerator.

Good price right now. It’s up in the $30s sometimes. Make sure you get the Coring one. I wore my work boots and just got into a rhythm as I did rows in my yard. Not “fun”, but it’s not hard. Sometimes have to knock the aerator against a rock to loosen dirt stuck inside.

Yard Butler Lawn Coring Aerator Manual Grass Dethatching Turf Plug Core Aeration Tool ID-6C https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EOMCJD6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_nVgtDbXTQ2MH2