Choosing the right lawn core aerator is essential for healthy green grass. Using the right tools makes any job easier. So you must choose the right lawn aerator for your needs.

The most popular type of lawn aerator is mechanical aerators. These machines usually weigh from 200-300 lbs. They are large and do the job quickly & efficiently. They are almost all core aerators & if done properly can pull out 2-4 inch cores from your lawn. You can rent a mechanical lawn aerator from a local Home Depot or rental shop, or you can hire a local landscaper to do the aeration for you.

Manual core aerators are also popular among people who have very small lawn areas. These aerators also pull cores from your lawn, but you will be more likely to get 1-3 inch cores. With a manual core aerator you must prepare your lawn in advance & aerate only during the seasons of the year when the ground is soft, otherwise you will not get enough benefit because your cores will be very shallow. You will have to buy your own manual core aerator (or borrow from a neighbor), but don’t try to aerate your yard with one unless it is smaller than 500 square feet, or you have a few days to spend on it.

Manual spike aerators are sold all over the place. These are lawn aerators that work by punching holes into your lawn rather than taking small cores out of your lawn. Spike aerators are a lot easier to use on hard lawns & during the summer when the ground is a lot harder. The lawn aerator will usually put holes 2-3 inches deep. However, spike aerators are not as effective as core aerators. You will also have to buy a manual spike aerator, if you think it is the best for you. Again, if your lawn is over 500 square feet, you will be dedicating a lot of time to aerating it by hand.

Liquid lawn aerators are a very different lawn aerator. They are known as surfactants and work similar to a soil conditioner. They claim that you only need to use them one time per year; however that is if you have a perfect lawn to begin with. You will need to use it at monthly followed by topdressing for the first year, every 2 months w/ topdressing the 2^nd year, and every 4 months and a top dressing the following year. After the 3^rd year your lawn should be in a place to benefit from liquid aeration just one time annually. The advantage to liquid aerators is they have humic acid in them which breaks down any toxins you may have in your yard from pesticide & herbicide treatments. Liquid aerators also move sodium out of the root zone of the grass which helps the health of the grass immensely. You will have to buy the liquid aeration each time you plan to aerate. The aeration formula usually comes in a small bottle that will hook up to your hose & you put it on while watering your lawn. You do have to put it on by hand though (you won’t be able to use a sprinkler system). However, even if you have a larger yard, it shouldn’t take you too long to use a liquid lawn aerator.

Whatever you choose to aerate your lawn with,  be sure it fits your lawn & your lifestyle. I would highly recommend using either a core aerator or a liquid aerator. Just be sure that the liquid aerator is organic and of high quality. You can find one at nitron.com.