Best Pull Behind Aerators: Key Features Compared - Thriving Yard.

You can use lawn aeration to improve the health of your lawn.If you have a large lawn and use a riding mower, you can save a lot of money by purchasing a pull-behind aerator.

Which pull-behind model should you choose?Here is a list of the best offerings on the market.

I compared these models using categories like their width, the number of plugs that they have, and how easy they are to use.Let's make sure we understand a few basics before diving into those pull behind aerators.

The soil in your lawn can change over time.This is true when you have a lot of clay in your soil.

Aeration comes in handy here.It ensures that you have a healthy lawn by allowing air to enter the ground and with it, more water, minerals, etc.All of these help the roots of your grass by easing the compression around them.

It needs to be aerate at the right time.The best time to do this is when the grass is growing so that the holes can heal quickly.It is possible to do this in the spring or fall when it is cooler.Base this decision on whether your grass is better suited for the warm or the cool season and aerate accordingly.

I prefer to do this early in the spring, late fall, and even during the winter.I don't want to cause stress to the grass when it is growing.

There are different tools for aeration.The plug and spike aerators are the main ones.The spike aerator pokes the ground and leaves holes.The plug aerator digs into the soil and pulls out plugs.

It is best to use a core aerator if you want to reduce the size of the soil.The soil can become more compact if holes are poked into the ground.

The land should be moistened to start aerating.You might end up struggling more than you need to if it is not watery enough.I have found that using a liquid soil conditioner is a good way to prepare the soil for aeration.

Does Liquid Soil Conditioner Work? is a good place to learn more about this.The promise of easy aeration.

A dedicated dethatching tool is the best way to remove thatch on your lawn.

There are many factors to consider when selecting an aeration tool.The size of your property is one of the first ones.A larger pull behind aerator will result in fewer passes.A smaller unit may be better for you if you have a lot of tight spaces.

A spoon is a metal shaft that plunges into the soil.The more cores it removes on each pass, the more you have.The pull behind the aerators has more cores.

The goal of lawn aeration is to improve air and water penetration while encouraging deeper root growth.The amount of soil that is removed will be determined by the depth at which your aerator spoons are designed to dig.

The aeration plugs should be up to 3 inches apart.

The novelty spike shoes that poke an inch into the ground are not penetrating deeply enough, not to mention the potential harm they are doing by compressing the soil instead of truly aerating it.

Pneumatic tires are filled with air.They have a soft experience but are prone to flats.While they are more expensive, newer flat-free tires do not suffer from deflation.These cost more.

Let's take a look at the features offered by each of the best pull behind core aerators.

The widest pull behind aerators on the market is offered by Agri-Fab, which has made a name for themselves with reliable products.If you have a bigger yard, the 48-inch model is a good choice.

It is easy to use.The spoon wheel has a load deck where you load weights or cinder blocks to push the spoons into the ground.The transport lever allows you to disengage the aerator spoons when needed and the knives on the spoons are self-sharpening.

You need to remove your ball hitch if you want to attach it to ATVs.It comes unassembled, so you'll have to spend a half-hour or so getting it set up, but it's built solid and should last you for many seasons.Assembly videos can be found on the website.

This model is 48 inches wide and has 32 spoons for pulling plugs, which means that it covers a wide area in a short time.The loading deck can hold up to 175 lbs of weight and it comes with flat-free tires.

40 inches of width and 24 aerating spoons are offered by this aerator.It is best suited for large open area lawns.The spoons have been heat-treated to give them the best performance.

The aerator is easy to attach to a tractor or lawnmower.The loading deck can take around 150 pounds of weight and it helps to drive the spoons into the ground.Blocks are one of the weights you can use.If one of the plugs on the aerator breaks, they are easy to replace.

The Brinly model is easy to navigate.If you have tight corners, keep that in mind.The design of the core plunge is very durable.The machine has a lever to disengage the spoons when transporting and comes with flat-free tires.

This aerator has 24 plugs at 40 inches wide.It is a popular aerator because it is wide enough to cover larger areas but not too wide to allow for a little maneuvering.You can attach it to a vehicle.It has 10-inch flat-free tires.

It requires some assembly, but you can follow the instructions in the package.The deck is made of steel and designed to last.

Compared to the 48 inch model, this one holds its own for someone needing the ease of pull behind aeration but working in tighter areas that don't allow for a wider spread.

The aerator is 48 inches wide and has 32 aeration spoons that dig into the ground at 2 and a half inches deep.It can take up to 140 lbs of weight in the tray above the deck to push the aeration spoons into the soil.

The body of the Strongway pull behind aerator is finished with a coat of powder which makes it look good.The lever is easy to reach and the wheels are strong enough to hold the weight balanced.If there is enough open space, you can use it on any soil.

The Yard Tuff aerator is 48 inches wide and can cover wide areas.The device is designed to plunge the aeration spoons a full three inches deep.

The aeration spoons are easy to replace.It is made of steel and finished with a powder coat that will protect it from the elements.

The hitch is pin-style and has a tension bar to disengage the spoons.

The tray on this aerator can hold up to 200 lbs of weight and can be made of cinder or cement.Even if your concentration of clay is higher than normal, it will still be perfect for more solid lawns.Replacement spoons are offered by the manufacturer of this aerator.

The pull behind aerator is a way to loosen the soil.It is 40 inches wide and has 24 galvanized steel plugs.They cut into the ground at three inches deep.

The aerator's tray can hold up to 140 lbs.The flat-free tires make them great for running on the lawn and other surfaces.

The aerator is made of steel.It should be easy to assemble.

The pull behind the aerator depends on your needs.This includes the size of your yard and the amount of landscaping you have.A wide base unit like the Agri-Fab 45-0299 is perfect for large areas.A 40 inch model like the Brinly PA-40BH is better for smaller yards and lawns with a lot of obstructions.

Don't make your decision based on marketing hype.Each of the pull behind aerators can serve your needs.It is important that you have this tool.You begin using it to improve the quality of your soil.

Look at my complete five-step strategy for improving clay soil and how aeration plays a critical role in this process.

There is a yard on red clay soil in Southeast Texas.He knows how hard it is to nurture a thriving yard in difficult soil.He enjoys putting best practices and golden rules of lawn care to the test and takes a practical approach to yard improvement.Click here to find Paul's author page.