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.

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.

The 8 Best Lawn Aerators of 2021

Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products; you can learn more about our review process here. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Brinly-Hardy Tow Behind Plug Aerator at Amazon

A long-lasting tow-behind aerator that works well for clay or loamy soils, its tines can penetrate the soil up to three inches deep.

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Best Tow-Behind Spike:

Agri-Fab 40-in Spike Lawn Aerator at Amazon

Perfect for large lawns with sandy or loam soils, the spikes provide up to 2.5-inches of aeration depth.

Read Review

Best Tow Behind Plug:

Agri-Fab 48-Inch Tow Plug Aerator at Amazon

It hitches easily to your lawn tractor and has heavy-duty gauge steel that breaks apart clay soils.

Read Review

Best Liquid:

Simple Lawn Solutions Liquid Aerating Soil Loosener at Amazon

Using ingredients that help break apart hardened soil, Simple Lawn Solutions can be used with or without mechanical aeration.

Read Review

Best Push:

Agri-Fab Push Spike Aerator at Amazon

Easy to push or pull, this compact aerator is easy to store and ideal for smaller lawns with loamy soils.

Read Review

Best Handheld:

Yard Butler Lawn Coring Aerator at Amazon

Whether you have clay or loamy soil, a Yard Butler handheld aerator improves the condition of the soil.

Read Review

Best Shoes:

Ohuhu Lawn Aerator Shoes at Amazon

Perfect for small lawns or grassy areas, these attachments strap easily onto shoes... get in your steps and aerate the lawn.

Read Review

In This Article

Our Picks
What to Look for
Why Trust The Spruce

A beautiful lawn requires feeding, watering, weeding, and mowing to keep it looking its best. One of the best ways to prevent bare patches is to aerate the lawn. Soil, especially clay-based soils, can easily become compacted, preventing water and fertilizer from reaching the roots of the grass. Poor root health equals poor-looking grass.

Compaction happens when the pockets between soil particles collapse in high-traffic areas or if the soil isn’t prepared correctly before seeding or laying sod. Matters are worse if thatch—a mix of dead grass and leaves—covers the soil and grass. Aeration creates spaces for air, water, and nutrients to reach the roots and restore the health of the grass. When choosing an aeration tool, you should consider the size of the lawn, ease of use, the type of soil, durability, and adjustable aeration depths.

Aerators work with either plugs or spikes. Plugs (often called cores) are best for clay soils. Plug aerators have hollow tines that penetrate the ground and remove plugs of soil. Choose a plug aerator if your lawn is difficult to dig into or water pools in the grass after a rainfall. Spike aerators puncture the ground with long spikes and work well on sandy or loamy soil.

Here are the best aeration tools for use on clay and loose soils.

Brinly-Hardy PA-40BH Tow Behind Plug Aerator

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What We Like

Heavy-duty construction
Large width and 24 plugs
Can be used on clay and sandy soils

What We Don't Like

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.

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What We Like

40-inch width with 10 spikes
Heavy-duty construction
Best for sandy soils

What We Don't Like

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.

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What We Like

48-inch width with 32 spikes
Heavy-duty construction
Best for large lawns with clay soil

What We Don't Like

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.

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Simple Lawn Solutions Liquid Aerating Soil Loosener

View On Amazon

What We Like

Easy to use
Can be used for clay or sandy soil
Aids in mechanical or manual aeration

What We Don't Like

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.

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What We Like

Less expensive than larger models
Small storage footprint
Works in small spaces

What We Don't Like

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.

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What We Like

Budget-friendly
Small storage footprint
Works in small spaces

What We Don't Like

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 four pounds. Each has rubber padded handles and a footrest for ease in pushing the aerator into the soil.

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What We Like

Budget-friendly
Easy to store

What We Don't Like

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 two inches, the Ohuhu Lawn Aerator Shoes will aerate 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.

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Final Verdict

Our top pick is the Brinly-Hardy 40-inch Tow Behind Plug Aerator (view at Amazon), 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 (view at Amazon) 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.

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.

FAQ

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.
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.

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.

The 8 Best Lawn Aerators of 2021

Keep your grass looking healthy

Best Overall: Brinly-Hardy PA-40BH Tow Behind Plug Aerator

Best Tow-Behind Spike: Agri-Fab 40-in Spike Lawn Aerator

Best Tow Behind Plug: Agri-Fab 48-Inch Tow Plug Aerator

Best Liquid: Simple Lawn Solutions Liquid Aerating Soil Loosener

Best Push: Agri-Fab Push Spike Aerator

Best Handheld: Yard Butler Lawn Coring Aerator

Best Shoes: Ohuhu Lawn Aerator Shoes with Hook & Loop Straps

The 8 Best Lawn Aerators of 2021

Keep your grass looking healthy

Best Overall: Brinly-Hardy PA-40BH Tow Behind Plug Aerator

Best Tow-Behind Spike: Agri-Fab 40-in Spike Lawn Aerator

Best Tow Behind Plug: Agri-Fab 48-Inch Tow Plug Aerator

Best Liquid: Simple Lawn Solutions Liquid Aerating Soil Loosener

Best Push: Agri-Fab Push Spike Aerator

Best Handheld: Yard Butler Lawn Coring Aerator

Best Shoes: Ohuhu Lawn Aerator Shoes with Hook & Loop Straps

What to Look for in a Lawn Aerator

Type of soil

Size of your lawn

Additional equipment and storage space

Why Trust The Spruce?