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The Spruce / Laurey W. Glenn
A top-quality lawn aerator creates soil-deep holes that allow air, water, and fertilizer to reach the roots of your grass, keeping your lawn healthy, nourished, and looking its best. We researched dozens of lawn aerators, evaluating ease of use, functionality and features, and overall value.
The winner, the Brinly-Hardy PA-40BH Tow Behind Plug Aerator, has a durable steel design and a universal hitch, handles well on turns and uneven terrain, and can penetrate even compacted soil.
Here are the best aeration tools.
Best Overall: Brinly-Hardy PA-40BH Tow Behind Plug Aerator
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Amazon
Heavy-duty construction
Large width and 24 plugs
Can be used on clay and sandy soils
Requires lawn tractor for use
Weights not included
With a universal hitch that can attach to any lawn tractor, UTV, or ATV, this Brinly-Hardy plug aerator is the best choice for anyone with a large lawn. Since plug aerators are a must for clay soils and can be used on looser soils as well, this durable, all-steel construction aerator with “no-flat” tires is our best overall choice.
The 40-inch width and 24 3-inch plugs help cover large areas quickly. A weight tray holds up to 150 pounds of concrete blocks to ensure adequate ground penetration. An easy-to-use transport lever allows you to disengage the plugs quickly to avoid sidewalks or sprinkler components.
Price at time of publish: $289
Best Tow-Behind Spike: Agri-Fab 40-in Spike Lawn Aerator
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Lowe's
40-inch width with 10 spikes
Heavy-duty construction
Best for sandy soils
Requires lawn tractor for use
Weights not included
Requires large storage space
Since sandy soils are much easier to aerate than clay soils, the Agri-Fab Spike Aerator is a great choice. With 10 spikes and a weight tray that can hold 100-pounds of balance weight, it has a universal hitch that will work with any lawn tractor or UTV. The hitch folds up for easier storage.
The galvanized spikes can penetrate to a depth of 2.5-inches, and it has a lever for height adjustment. The flat-free tires roll smoothly and will never need to be filled. With a three-year limited warranty, this solid steel aerator will last through many years of lawn care.
Price at time of publish: $199
Best Tow Behind Plug: Agri-Fab 48-Inch Tow Plug Aerator
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Amazon
48-inch width with 32 spikes
Heavy-duty construction
Best for large lawns with clay soil
Requires lawn tractor for use
Weights not included
Requires large storage space
When you have heavy soil, you need a heavy-duty lawn aerator. The Agri-Fab plug aerator has 32 galvanized plugs that will penetrate to a depth of three inches.
Able to hold 140 pounds of weight (4 concrete blocks), the steel construction will withstand years of use. For best results, secure the blocks with bungee cords to prevent shifting during use. With a universal hitch that fits all lawn tractors and UTVs, the cantilever transport handle makes raising and lowering the plugs an easy task. The ten-inch tires will not deflate and roll smoothly over even rutted terrain.
Price at time of publish: $370
Best Liquid: Simple Lawn Solutions Liquid Aerating Soil Loosener
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Amazon
Easy to use
Can be used for clay or sandy soil
Aids in mechanical or manual aeration
Does not penetrate soil as deeply as mechanical or manual aeration
Large aerators aren’t practical if you have a small lawn or strip of grass that needs help. Fortunately, you can still loosen the soil by using a liquid aerator like Simple Lawn Solutions. The proprietary mixture of surfactants and other ingredients breaks apart soil colloids to improve water and nutrient absorption.
The product mixes with water and is used at a rate of one ounce per 1,000-square-feet of grass. This soil loosener works well before seeding a lawn or manual aeration to make the task easier.
Price at time of publish: $35
Best Push: Agri-Fab Push Spike Aerator
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Courtesy of Home Depot
Less expensive than larger models
Small storage footprint
Works in small spaces
Requires physical effort
Covers only a small area at a time
You can still aerate the lawn with the Agri-Fab push aerator if you don't have a lawn tractor. This push aerator is outfitted with spikes and works best on small lawns with loamy soils. You can also pull this aerator. Just 16-inches wide, it can accommodate one concrete block to help push the five spiked discs into the ground to a depth of 2.5-inches. It is 38-inches high, weighs about 27 pounds, and has a small footprint for storage.
Price at time of publish: $100
Best Handheld: Yard Butler Lawn Coring Aerator
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Amazon
Budget-friendly
Small storage footprint
Works in small spaces
Requires physical effort
Covers only a small area at a time
A handheld aerator is much easier to store and can get into tight places where a tow-behind aerator cannot go. Yard Butler offers both plug (core) and spike handheld aerators. The plug type has two tines that will penetrate up to 3.5-inches. The spike aerator has four 3-inch spikes. Both aerators are made of steel, measuring 37 inches high and weighing around 4 pounds. Each has rubber padded handles and a footrest for ease in pushing the aerator into the soil.
Price at time of publish: $38
Best Shoes: Ohuhu Lawn Aerator Shoes with Hook & Loop Straps
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Amazon
Budget-friendly
Easy to store
Requires physical dexterity
While you might be tempted to try aerating a lawn with golf shoes or cleats, you need actual aerator shoes to get the job done. With 13 solid steel spikes in each shoe, penetrating up to 2 inches, the Ohuhu Lawn Aerator Shoes aerates a lawn properly.
The spikes strap onto sturdy shoes with adjustable hook and loop fasteners. Measuring 12 inches long and 5-inches wide, the shoes will fit most men and women. It takes a bit of practice to find your rhythm. Start with small steps and use a walking stick or tool handle for support until you get the hang of it. To make the task easier, lightly water the lawn for easier penetration.
Price at time of publish: $28
Best Scarifier: Sun Joe AJ801E 12-Amp 13-Inch Electric Dethatcher and Scarifier
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Adjustable depth control
Included detachable bag
Small footprint
Single-button start
Small bag
100-foot extension cord maximum
Aerating may allow your lawn better access to the water and air it needs to grow. But it also doesn't address the issue of piled-up and compressed growth, which can prevent all that from happening. For this, many lawn care experts recommend "scarifying" or de-thatching—removing the built-up thatch. It is physically difficult to do this with a rake, both for the energy it takes and for the amount of distance needing to be covered. We found that the electrically powered Sun Joe AJ801E, which uses a rotating bladed cylinder to scrape up the detritus, accomplishes the task effectively and in far less time. We like the product for its 12-amp electric motor, and for its 12.6-inch path, which strikes us as just the right size for most lawns.
The 27-pound, ETL-approved de-thatcher features a single-handle, five-position depth control, from less than half an inch below the soil to just under half an inch above. This way you can be sure you set the machine to remove what you want removed and not an entire swath of sod. The scarifying blade is pre-attached, but you also can swap out a rake attachment (included, but you need an adjustable wrench). The handles require minimal assembly, with included hardware.
We recommend using the Sun Joe without the included collection bag, as it is fairly small and fills up fast, requiring interminable emptying. Also, this is not a machine for large lawns, as the manufacturer strongly advises using an extension cord no longer than 100 feet.
Price at time of publish: $118
Our top pick is the Brinly-Hardy 40-inch Tow Behind Plug Aerator, which works well on clay and sandy soils, and has a heavy-duty steel construction that will last for years. If you're specifically looking for a tow-behind spike aerator, the Agri-Fab Spike Aerator is a great choice. It has galvanized spikes that can penetrate to a depth of 2.5 inches and will last through many years of use.
What to Look For in a Lawn Aerator
Type of soil
If you have hard, clay soil or water puddles in the grass after rain, then you should choose a plug aerator. By removing larger pieces or plugs of dirt, nutrients can penetrate more easily to the roots of the grass. If the soil is sandy or loamy, then the more narrow puncture of a spike aerator will give you the aeration needed.
Not sure what type of soil you have? Grab a handful of the soil and squeeze. If it forms a hard lump in your hand, you have clay. If the soil does not stick together and falls away easily, you have sandy or loamy soil.
Size of your lawn
Tow-behind aerators are rather large pieces of garden equipment and won’t perform well on small lots or narrow spaces. Tow-behind aerators are best for lawns larger than one-half acre and regular in shape. Consider the width of the aerator and your turn radius as you shop.
For smaller lawns and irregularly-shaped grass spaces, choose a push aerator, handheld model, or aerator shoes.
Additional equipment and storage space
A tow-behind aerator is going to require something to pull it along. You must have a lawn tractor, ATV, or small utility vehicle. Tow-behind models and push models also need weights (usually several concrete blocks) to help them penetrate the soil. Consider the storage space required for all of these items.
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How do lawn aerators work?
Every type of lawn aerator creates small holes in the ground so that water, fertilizer, and air can reach the roots of the grass and improve growth and health.
- Plug aerators are handheld or towed behind a lawn tractor and use hollow tines to remove plugs of soil. They are best for clay soils.
- Spike aerators are handheld, pushed, worn on shoes, or towed to puncture the soil with long spikes. They work well on loose loam or sandy soils.
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When is the best time to aerate your lawn?
The best time to aerate the lawn is dependent on the type of lawn grass. Cool-season grasses (Kentucky bluegrass) should be aerated in the fall. The growing season is still active, but weeds are under control, and temperatures are cooler. Warm-season grasses (Bermuda, centipede) should be aerated in the spring. Most lawns only need to be aerated once per year.
Of course, there are exceptions. If the lawn is part of new construction and the ground has been compacted by all of the equipment used during building, you may need aeration to ensure water reaches the roots of freshly laid sod.
While it is acceptable to aerate when damp, don't do it after heavy rains; you'll end up with a muddy mess that makes it hard for the lawn to recover.
Why Trust The Spruce?
Mary Marlowe Leverette researched and wrote this roundup. She is a Master Gardener and has extensive personal and professional experience testing, reviewing, and writing about home and garden products. You can find more of her work on The Spruce.
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