Aerators

An aerator is a piece of equipment that perforates the soil, creating small holes that enable air, water and nutrients to get beneath the surface to the roots of your turf. Aerators loosen compacted soil to enhance drainage and reduce water runoff.  

There are a number of different aerator designs. You can find hand tools (or even spikes you can wear on your shoes) that are designed for aeration. To aerate large areas, there are powered equipment models, such as tow-behind or walk-behind aerators that can significantly increase your productivity. 

One of the most common types of aerators are core aerators, also called plug aerators. These machines have hollow, tubular tines that pull small plugs of soil from the ground. Spike aerators have metal tines or blades that poke into the surface without removing any soil. 

Aeration is important for overall lawn health as it reduces soil compaction. 

Walking, playing, mowing and all the daily activities that take place on a lawn will compact the soil and stress the grass. Even raindrops and irrigation contribute to soil compaction. Compact soil reduces the large air spaces roots need to grow, and it prevents water and fertilizer from reaching the roots. This can negatively impact the overall health of your turf. 

When establishing a lawn for newly constructed properties, fertile topsoil is often removed or buried during excavation for basements and footings. This forces the grass to grow in the subsoil, which is more compact and higher in clay content. These conditions are less likely to sustain a healthy lawn.  

Aeration creates better conditions for growth in the upper 1 to 1 ½ inches of soil where compaction is greatest, allowing your grass to develop deeper roots and make better use of water and fertilizer. 

Aeration provides many benefits that can help make your lawn healthier and reduce maintenance for you. These include: 

• Better air exchange between the soil and atmosphere 
• Improved soil water uptake 
• Enhanced fertilizer uptake and use 
• Less water runoff and fewer puddles 
• Stronger roots 
• Improved heat and drought stress tolerance 
• Better resiliency and cushioning 
• Enhanced thatch breakdown 

Operating an aerator is simple once you are familiar with the controls and the overall layout of your work area.  

Before operating power equipment of any kind: 

• Wear safety glasses, hearing protection and appropriate footwear 
• Read and understand any safety warnings that are printed on the machine 
• Clear any debris from the jobsite and mark any obstacles that could damage your aerator tines 
• Pets and children should be a safe distance from the work area 

Make sure the water drum at the front of the machine is filled. 

To start the aerator's engine: 

• Ensure all controls are in the neutral position 
• Open the fuel valve 
• Close the choke lever 
• Turn the ignition switch clockwise to the on position 
• Pull the pull cord to start the engine 
• When the engine starts, open the choke lever and let the engine warm up for about a minute 

 To aerate with a walk-behind aerator: 

• Adjust the throttle lever to your desired speed 
• Push the transport lift handle (lower lever) down to lower the tines 
• Pull the transport lift handle (lower lever) up to raise the tines 
• Push down on the unit's handle to raise the front of the machine slightly off the ground 
• Push the clutch control handle to engage the tines; the unit will pull itself forward and aeration begins 
• When making tight turns, pull the transport lift handle up to raise the tines out of the ground 
• Raise the transport lift handle when crossing sidewalks, stones, pavers or other hard surfaces that can potentially damage the tines 
• To stop the machine, release the clutch control handle, raise the tines with the transport lift handle and turn the ignition switch counterclockwise to the off position 

To aerate with a stand-on aerator: 

• Lower the operator platform to stand in the operator’s position 
• Make sure controls are in the neutral position and the parking brake is engaged 
• Start the engine and move the throttle to its highest setting 
• Disengage the parking brake  
• Move the traction levers forward to move the machine forward – the farther you move the levers, the faster the machine will travel 
• Move the traction levers in opposite directions to make a tight turn or extend one traction lever ahead of the other to make a more gradual turn 
• Rock the raise/lower switch forward to lower the tines and drive forward to begin aerating 
• Raise the tines when making turns that have a radius of less than 4 feet or when traveling over hard surfaces like sidewalks or sprinkler heads 
• Be sure to operate across slopes instead of traveling up and down slopes 
• At the end of each pass, return control levers to the neutral position and raise the tines with the raise/lower switch before turning 
• To stop the machine, raise the tines, return controls to the neutral position, engage the parking brake and turn the key switch to the off position