Ditch Big & Pricey Lawn Aerators For A Simple Solution From Home Depot That Stores Easily

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Aerating your lawn (making little holes across it) is a vital annual task to loosen up the surface and allow air, water, and minerals to reach down to the roots of the grass. It's one of the simple habits of people who keep their lawns lush and well-manicured. There are all kinds of aerators on the market, some of them costing hundreds or even thousands of dollars. That's a lot of money to spend on something you'll probably only need once a year, especially if you have a modest-sized lawn. Home Depot has a simple and durable solution that currently costs just $29.97. It's the Ames Steel Spike Aerator.

There are no moving parts to this aerator, so while it requires a little more muscle, there's also nothing to go wrong. The comfortable stirrup handle and four sturdy spikes are made of steel and welded together to form a single tool. It's also a breeze to use. Just put your foot on the bar and push the spikes down into the soil. Pull them out with the handle, move forward around six inches and repeat. At 36 inches high, it is tall enough to be comfortable to use, but also under 8 inches wide and 1.25 inches thick, so it's easy to store it with your shovels, rakes, hoes, and other garden tools. However, it's a competitive market, so it's a good idea to check what else is available and whether this manual tool will be the best option for the size of your yard, grass type, and soil type.

An impressive 91% of customers who reviewed this item said that they would recommend the Ames Steel Spike Aerator. "It's lightweight, easy to hold, and easy to press into the lawn with my foot," wrote one Home Depot reviewer, "In a few minutes, I was able to thoroughly aerate a 4' by 4' patch of my lawn. I'll try and spend a few minutes each week doing a different section, and I'll eventually complete my 20' by 20'  lawn." A few of those with clay soils found it easier to use after a rain. Complaints aren't common, although a couple of buyers reported that a spike on their aerator had bent or broken.

Overall, the Ames Steel Spike Aerator is a tough and budget-friendly option. It's certainly worth considering if you have a small lawn and limited storage space. However, being a manual tool, there's a limit to what you would want to tackle with this aerator. Stomping holes around your lawn takes time and effort, so renting a machine could be a better option if you're working with a larger plot. You could also consider buying a tow-behind model if you have a lawn tractor. 

It's also worth investigating and understanding the difference between spike and core aeration. Both can kickstart new growth, but the Ames Steel Spike Aerator doesn't remove soil plugs; it only drives holes into the soil. If your soil is severely compacted or comprised of clay or silt, a hollow core aeration device may be more suitable. Before aerating, you should also identify which type of grass you have if you're not sure, since this may affect whether you should aerate in spring or early summer or in the fall.