Posts: 12,469
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Joined: Aug 2003
Location: Wapakoneta, OH
I have one, and use it twice a year. This is a plug cutter type, and fits the 3 point hitch of a compact tractor. I think aerating helps with quite a few things: it helps decompose thatch, obviously provides O2 to the grass, and does relieve compaction somewhat. It may be wishful thinking on my part, but it seems to help with water absorbtion when it rains. There are probably others, but the first three are why I got mine (used). At our last house I rented those Bluebird walk behinds (beware, it's more like a RUN behind). They worked fairly well, but not as well as the tractor mount model.
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Posts: 5,119
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Joined: Apr 2009
Location: SoMar
For as often as you'd use it, it's probably cheaper to rent one instead. Unless you find one on Craigslist or something like that.
I would never buy one for my own use.
Posts: 36,368
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Joined: Nov 2004
Location: RTP, NC
I have one that tows behind my mower. I had 4 concrete blocks on it and it didn't do much in my dry clay soil. If the clay is wet enough that it would actually cut plugs then I'd tear the lawn up riding over it. I also discovered the tires aren't really holding air and need to be replaced. I think rather than spend any money on it I'm just going to rent one once or twice a year.
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Joined: Jan 2008
Location: Richmond, VA
I have one and use it 2 times a year. I find it really helps with over seeding. It is the plug style, I don't use cinderblocks on it as they are not really that heavy and make a bunch of noise. I find that 3-4 bag of fertilizer/lime on top make a much better weight.
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Joined: Dec 2005
According to the guy that taught the lawn class I took (He used to have a lawn care radio show in this area) it is critical that one use a plug aerator. If one uses spikes that is actually compressing the soil and making things worse. He said the soil cores need to be pulled out and dropped on top of the soil, anything else is making it worse.
He proved it this way: when they want to compact soil at a building site for a house, big building or a road, what do they do? They use a roller that has spikes on it to form localized areas of high pressure. Those localized high pressure areas compact the soil.