Comparison of Yard Aerators

Hand-operated Solid Tine Aerators

• Hand-operated aerators in the form of forks or spikes are available that have solid metal tines that are poked into the ground to loosen the soil. These tools are generally inexpensive but are not recommended by soil experts because they contribute to soil compaction instead of loosening it, according to Virginia Tech University extension agent Marc Aveni.

Hand-operated Hollow Tine Operators

• Hollow-tine aerators use a metal tube that removes plugs of soil to aerate the soil. The tool is stabbed into the soil when it is moist, but not wet, then removed. This action removes enough soil to allow air to penetrate the root zone of plants more effectively. Spring and fall are the best times of year to aerate soil, according to Penn State University agronomist John C. Harper II.

Small Mechanical Aerators

• This method involves a motorized tool that extracts a 1/2 to 3/4-inch core of soil. The operator directs the machine along the area that needs aeration. It deposits the soil plugs on the surface of the lawn where they break down into small particles. Mechanical soil aerators are available at equipment rental stores. They are heavy machines that need to be transported to work areas and can be cost effective to rent when several neighbors share the rental costs. Some small mechanical cultivators come with aerator attachments that are effective on small lawn or garden areas.

Aerator Tractor Attachments

• Tractor attachments with hollow tines that rotate into the ground are also available for soil aeration. These attachments dig down into the soil just as smaller implements do to remove bits that allow oxygen into root areas and allow carbon dioxide to expel. Homeowners who own their own small tractor for home use can purchase these attachments through the manufacturer. Ensure that the spikes of the attachment have hollow tines that will remove plugs of soil, not solid tines that merely poke holes in the soil. Those homeowners who do not have their own tractors may wish to call contractors that will bring the tractor to the site and aerate the soil for them. Though this is a more expensive option, it often provides the best soil aeration with the least amount of trouble.