Lawn Scarifier/Aerator

Hiya folks. I’m thinking of buying one of those electric lawn scarifier/aerator thingies. Are these actually any good at aerating the lawn? Is it a worthwhile exercise? How does it compare to hollow tining?

Regards, Freddy.

 

We have a lawn scarifier/raker and its really good at getting the moss and thatch out, use it once or twice a year, produces couple of wheely bin bags of waste !
Its a Qualcast Lawnraker 32 but long since obselete, though still quiet a few similar makes sub £100 from stores like Screwfix / B&Q etc

As for Aerators, we would suggest you first establish if you need to do it.
If you have kids playing games on the lawn all the time, maybe it needs lightening up.

Get something metal , thin and about 12" long with some form of handle to it like a big screwdriver etc and see how far you can push it into the lawn with just one hand. Do this over several areas of the lawn/s.
If it goes in around 6" then would say its not compacted.

The diy step on type of tools are a total pain to use and would say almost impossible for us older folk to do even a small lawn.
You do see lawn mower type Aerators with rows of little solid spikes but what are they going to do ?
If your lawn/s really does need aeration, then suggest hiring the proper tool is the right way or probably better getting someone with such a machine to do it for you.

 

Hiya Ricky, thanks for your response. My understanding is that grass appreciates air at its roots. I remember years ago using one of those thingys that you had to stand on which took out cores. I followed it up with applying lots of sand. The following year the lawn was fantastic. Trouble is, the thing became clogged with earth so subsequently was a bit useless. Too much like hard work now. As the lawn is only small, it doesn’t warrant anything too industrial.
As it is, the lawn isn’t compacted. I was looking at something like this…
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Einhell-34...1682781419&sprefix=Lawn+,aps,138&sr=8-31&th=1

To be honest, I did wonder how effective it might be at aeration, hence my opening post.

 

Yes, those manual soil corers are a pain to use and threw ours away a long time ago as we never managed to do more than a quarter of our small lawn with it.

An electric scarifier / raker is very light and easy to use and now is the ideal time to use one with the grass just starting to out compete the moss patches.

How effective those Aerators blades are on that machine you mention, would be doubtful as to us it looks more like they would just create a series of shallow gouges into the lawn rather than removing a much deeper core.
We wonder if thats really any use , plus it might do more harm to the shallowish grass roots ?

Perhaps one for the pro lawn experts can advise.....

 

It not real aerator the one Ricky put on is though I personally just use a fork. Powered aerators are very expensive heavy and only really used once a year , not worth it for a domestic user but the cheaper version hollow tine you stand on is probably the only other option than a fork .

The einhell has a powered rake spring attachment which are ok but can rip out to much on heavy infested lawn of moss in my opinion, the other attachment is a scarifier / dethatcher ideal for moss and thatch which is the better option. If moss isn't present its probably not worth buying cause that's what this machine is really for .

 

Hollow time or Verti drain which does not remove plugs all helps and you will need to dress the area depending on the size of the spike if verti draining and you hire a machine for this.

 

I’d estimate that the lawn is around 50sqm, and with narrow access, so heavy machinery isn’t really an option. I think I’ll leave it for now, and give it a good forking in autumn.
Thanks all