Hollow Tine Aereator

Hi - I have a hollow time areator similar to this:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bosmere-Hollow-Tine-Aerator/dp/B000QZ5IMY

Unfortunately, the plugs don't seem to come out of the top, which means that I seem to be pushing the soil down to create the holes rather than actually removing plugs of soil.

I've cleaned it out thoroughly but it clogs up straight away.

The soil doesn't seem to be clay as the garden was raised up at some point and filled with topsoil.

Should I use a better tool or is it ok to just make the holes eventhough the soil plugs aren't coming out?

Thanks, Nick

 

I don't know of any manual Hollow-tine tool that doesn't clog up to be honest!

Extremely compacted lawns need a lot of "oomph" behind them and a more cleverly designed tool end which slides the core out sideways rather than out of the top. E.g:

Which is why proper aeration machines are really heavy and expensive (120kg+, £2,000+).

Manual tools are only really useful on very small areas (like 1m2) or nice soft soil.

I'd recommend either hiring a decent machine (any hire shop, or decent mower shop will have one), or a get a lawn chap in to give you a quote ... which on a small lawn would probably be half the price of a days' hire!
(If you get a chap in though, make sure they collect the cores though and don't try to fob you off by calling them a "top dressing"!)

 

Agree with Kris, what you are doing is solid tining which will have very little effect as soil will expand back to fill hole. Hollow tining aims to remove a plug of soil to improve aeration to grass roots.

 

Thanks for the advice. Looks like Illget Green Thumb in to do the aereation

 

Get a length of rod about 1/4" cut a slot down about two inches, mount this in a battery drill (mains drill are a bit too feroucious for this) and insert a length of emery paper into the cut so it rolls up when you turn on the drill (nasty side out).

Insert this into the tine and go back and forth cutting off the emery paper as it gets clogged up with 'muck and corrosion'. Then try again. I spiked about half an acre with an iffy spiker 'cos the boss wouldn't put his hand in his pocket.

Cheers, Tony.

 

As I said above, whoever you get in, make sure you get them to rake to cores off ... some bigger companies refuse to as it takes too long and they will try to fob you off with some excuse for not doing a decent job.
The cores are a perfect home for weeds, they'll look terrible and make mowing difficult.
Also, don't be afraid to haggle, you're basically only buying their time!