Go BottomAerators - core or plug
 | Matt Dewalt
Join Date: Posts: 1 
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2000-05-03 15403
Which type of aerator work best? Is it beneficial to use one before overseeding (giving the seeds a place to sit)? If so, which type?Thanks, Matt
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| Greg franklin
Join Date: Posts: 1
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2000-05-06 16017
As I understand it, true core aeration is about a 4" deep plug of soil removed from the ground (and usually left laying about) in order to improve oxygen content, reduce soil density, increase water penetration and maybe some other things. In my limited experience I use the words plug and core interchangeably. Some homeowner models that you pull around just have a spike and I was told by a turf instructor that this just creates a hole with a zone of supercompacted soil around it therefore defeating the original intent of aerating. Now with that being said, I have a pull type that you fill with water and the teeth are shaped to make a plug. My clay soil usually allows 1/2" penetration when I do this before overseeding and these little pockets will germinate grass like magic. Now, if I really want to aerate something like a worn path, I'll put 5/8" spade bit in my 18v deWalt and drill away..... ....
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| Eddie Watkins
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2000-05-11 16164
I rented a self-propelled walk behind aerator last year and I seeded first then aerated so the plugs would melt down on top of the seeds when they got wet. It may have worked just as well if I had seeded after. It seemed to work pretty well, I got a lot of new grass this year. Does anybody know of a good cheap aerator to pull behind a tractor? I sure don't look forward to wrestling with the one I rented last year again. ....
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| MichaelSnyder
Join Date: Jun 1999 Posts: 0
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2000-05-11 16187
Eddie,
My father and I share a 4' pull behind core aireator made by Trac-Vac. I think he paid about $400 or so. I have seen cheaper ones, but after my first use..I am glad we didn't go that route. We used WELL over 250lbs-300lbs of weight in order to push the core tines 3"-4" into the soil. Actually, we could have used more...some spots were hard enough that the core tines only penetrated about 1"-2"...if that much. After using his and looking at a few cheaper units, needing that kind of weight would probably have caused one of those lesser units to bend or break under the weight. Naturally, aireating after a good soaking rain will help the tines go deeper...easier. Secondly, don't bother getting getting your little 10-12hp lawn mower out for this task. (From the voice of experience with a 12hp AC). My father's Kubota G1800 (16hp) lawn tractor struggled to keep enough traction necessary to pull it. Even my 4100 with rear weights needed 4wd in a few spots to keep the rear tires from spinning. When those tines are digging 3"-4" deep, its not the easiest thing to pull around. ....
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| Eddie Watkins
Join Date: Posts: 1
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2000-05-11 16188
Thanks Michael, You confirmed my suspicions. I thought the cheap ones looked a little flimsy but the pictures look like they're really working. ....
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