How to Aerate?

[Diago]

Do they sell any pull behind aeration tools that you can pull behing your lawn tractor? Do they take a little lawn plug out? When is the best time to do this? I would apreciate any advise!

JIM

[sparcebag]

Ya they sell them,but their pretty light weight and cheap,unless you want to spend BUCKS for a tool you'll use little.Why not rent one?? you wont have to store it and rental places have decent quality machinery.

[GotOne]

I bought one from f/farm a few years ago and it works great. It takes a plug about 3" deep out of the soil. Just add some weight to the tray that is built into the unit. I bought mine around this time of the year and got it at a close-out price. My son does a lot of the neighbors for 15.00 to 20.00 or a case of beer for me. It has more than paid for itself.

[Diago]

Thanks for the info so far. I do not live close to fleet farm, what manufactures make them? lDo you pull it behind your lawn tractor?

JIM

[GotOne]

Just check your lawn and garden supply store in the area. Does Home Depot have a store in Grand Rapids? How about Tractor Supply, etc. Just make sure you get the "core type"...one that pulls plugs out of the lawn, not the "spike" kind that makes little indents into the soil. They do pull behind your lawn tractor. Any time now, they should be going on-sale.

[Tom7227]

Best time to do it is last weekend. You can't go wrong doing it even now. Then put down some winterizing fertilizer. YOu're getting a bit late for that - don' t do it if there's frost in the ground where you are.

[hotrod1]

I would not aerify this late...you want to do it early enough in the season to allow the holes to heal up before winter...your lawn im sure has slowed down to where it wouldn't allow it to heal.