Weindependently evaluateall of our recommendations.
If you choose links we provide, we may receive compensation.
), a lawn aerator is a helpful tool for keeping your grass healthy and lush.
The Spruce
He recommendsplug (core) aeratorsfor all lawn types, however, includingheavy clay soiland large lawns.
We focused on a smaller area, and it penetrated our yard evenly with regular holes.
The controls are very intuitive and easy to use.
PHOTO: The Spruce
We were very impressed with its durability and quality.
We contacted the retailer, and they were extremely helpful and sent us the missing part quickly.
This aerator has two cores that are 3.5 inches long.
The Brinly Tow-Behind Plug Aerator was easy to attach and use on our medium-sized lawn.PHOTO: The Spruce
Bridget used the manual coring aerator on a smaller section of her 10,000-square-foot yard.
It doesnt get clogged each time, and only occasionally needs to be cleaned out.
Its also the lightest weight of any tool on our list, so its very easy to store.
We think its great for small lawns or patches of grass that you want to spot treat.
At 9 inches wide, using the tool can be time-consuming to cover larger spaces.
Jordan has a 4,000-square-foot sloped lawn that tends to have hard, compacted soil that is not very nutrient-rich.
We think it is because the spikes are tightly spaced.
We also loved the cushioned handle, which made it easy to hold during use.
Similar to ourbest spikepick, this is a manual tool that you push down with your foot.
However, it has three hollow cores, instead of 15 spikes.
We found that the cores created consistent, evenly spaced, large holes.
Mike has used a professional aeration service in the past on his 10,000 square foot lawn.
For this test, he used the tool to spot-treat a 25 square foot patch of his grass.
His lawn gets moderate foot traffic and has shady areas with a lot of trees.
We did find it easy to remove and clean with agarden hoseafter use, though.
This Greenworks dethatcher was just as easy to use as a plug-in electric lawn mower.
We found that it almost felt like it was selfpropelled, it wasthat easyto maneuver on our property.
Dave has a medium-sized lawn with cool-season grass and clay-based soil.
He found that this tool almost felt like a self-propelled lawn mower and was impressed with the results.
We found that the catch bag filled up too quickly, and it worked better without it.
But that was really the only issue with this tool.
We found it easy to store and loved that it folds down to save space.
It also has five different height options, so you might pick the best one for the job.
We also like that its a 2-in-1 tool: It also works as a scarifier.
bang out: Push Dethatcher/Scarifier |Length: Not applicable |Width:14 inches |Weight:28.7 pounds
What is Dethatching?
Final Verdict
The best lawn aerator we tested for most yards is theBrinly 40 Tow-Behind Plug Aerator.
We also noted if the handles and controls were comfortable and intuitive.
We also noted how easy the tool was to carry and store.
Durability: We looked at the quality and stability of each lawn aerator before and after use.
We noted if the materials were sturdy enough to handle different soil conditions and through multiple seasons.
It can be useful in getting the lawn ready for fertilizing or forwinter overseeding.
Our pick in this category is theWalensee Manual Spike Lawn Aerator.
How Often Should You Aerate Your Lawn?
He saysmost lawns only need it once a year,typically in fall or early spring.
Common options include:
Tow-behind aeratorshitch to the back of a riding lawn mower or lawn tractor.
Push aerators work best for small lawns without slopes or uneven ground.
PHOTO: The Spruce
Why Trust The Spruce?
Jenica Currieis a senior editor for The Spruce who has been covering gardening and lawn products since 2020.
The Yard Butler Manual Lawn Coring Aerator requires pressing down with your foot, but is effective.PHOTO: The Spruce
PHOTO: The Spruce
The Walensee Manual Spike Lawn Aerator is easy to assemble and lightweight to store.PHOTO: The Spruce
PHOTO: The Spruce
The Landzie Fork Aerator has angled tines that are 5.25 inches long to make deep holes.PHOTO: The Spruce
PHOTO: The Spruce
The Greenworks Corded Dethatcher has a handle that folds for easy storage.PHOTO: The Spruce
The Spruce
The Spruce
The Spruce
The Spruce
Spike aerators are best for smaller patches of soil or small yards.The Spruce
Plug aerators pull out the soil thanks to their hollow tines, and sometimes need to be unclogged.The Spruce
Manual aerators require your own foot power, so they can be tiring for larger yards.The Spruce
The Brinly Tow-Behind Plug Aerator has 24 plug spoons that rotate as you drive.The Spruce
