#PLUG OR SPIKE AERATOR BETTER PRO#
#PLUG OR SPIKE AERATOR BETTER PLUS#

So if you are looking for some easy aeration, a spike aerator is a good choice. They are significantly lighter and don’t take nearly as much effort to use. The first thing you’ll notice when using a spike aerator is that they are much easier to use, especially the walk-behind models. So let’s start off by taking a look at the pros first. I have owned and used a spike aerator for years, and it certainly gives me good results. Here are my pros and cons for the spike aerator. Now it’s time to look at the spike aerator and see how they score. Pros and Cons of the Spike Aerator (Again…Just My Opinion) So, if you don’t like a messy yard, you might not want to use a plug aerator. But it will take a while for all the plugs to disappear. While it may not look great, you should leave the plugs on the lawn and let them crumble back into the soil. In my experience, you’ll get about 20 or so plugs removed from your lawn in every square foot, so this is a lot of soil sitting on top of your lawn. So, before you head out to pick up a plug aerator, check that you’ll be able to operate it. This Classen was only the size of a lawn mower but weighed over 200 lbs. One of the particular models of plug aerators I have used in the past, a Classen, needed to be lifted to make a turn. Most plug aerators require additional weight to dig the cores into the ground, which can make operating this type of aerator too hard for some people. I would say that a good-quality plug aerator can cost nearly double that of a spike aerator, especially if you choose a gas-powered design. So, the logical choice is to opt for either a larger self-propelled or towable version. There are handheld versions, but these are very slow and demand a great deal of effort. Unfortunately, you have to spend more money to get the benefits of a plug aerator. So we know plug aerators are the superior design, but what about the bad stuff? Here are a few cons that might make you think twice when picking between core aeration vs. In addition, if you use a larger core aerator, you will only really need to aerate twice a year. Therefore, your lawn will feel the benefits of aeration for much longer and to a higher degree. Long Lasting Resultsĭue to the size of the plugs that are removed during aeration when using a core aerator, the openings stay open for much longer compared to those of a spike aerator. So, a plug aerator is the best option if you want optimal results. The purpose of aeration, after all, is to reduce the effects of soil compaction, which prevents water, nutrients, and air from penetrating down to the roots. This is because the larger the core, the more water, air, and nutrients will be able to enter the ground, and more gases will be able to escape. If you want the best tool for the job, a plug aerator is definitely the better of the two methods.

#PLUG OR SPIKE AERATOR BETTER PRO#

Let’s start out by taking a look at the pro of a plug aerator and see if one would suit your needs. Let’s start out by taking a look at the pros of a plug aerator and see if this design fits your needs. Pros and Cons of the Plug Aerator (In My Opinion) These aerators have a similar process and outcome as stabbing the ground with a knife or a screwdriver. Spike aerators also come in rotary and handheld designs. Instead of using a core to remove plugs, a spike aerator uses a metal spike or blades to make a hole in the soil without removing any soil. So, as the tool moves across the ground, the cores are automatically dug out of the ground and dropped onto the lawn.

#PLUG OR SPIKE AERATOR BETTER PLUS#

So, you press the tool into the ground using the weight and power of one of your feet.Ī rotary plug aerator uses the same row of core plugs plus additional cores evenly spaced around the horizontal shaft. Handheld core aerators use a single row of cores spaced at approximately 2-4 inches and are similar to digging in the ground with a spade. Plug aerators come in both rotary and handheld designs. The plugs range from 3-6 inches long and about ½ in diameter and penetrate the ground at the same time. Spike Aeration (+ Recommendation) What is a Plug Aerator?Ī plug aerator, otherwise known as a core aerator, uses hollow metal tubes called tines to remove plugs of soil from the ground.

Plug or spike aerator better