Call It Quits On Manual Lawn Aerators: The Amazon Tool That Attaches To Mowers And Tractors

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When it's time to aerate your lawn, you might look to buy a lawn aerator that's less than $50 to preserve your budget. However, you'll quickly learn that these products are basic tools that require you to use quite a bit of manual force to penetrate the ground. If you want to avoid some of the physical labor, a tow-behind machine may be the better choice. Because you can tow it with a riding mower or lawn tractor, you'll also be able to do the work faster than using a walk-behind aerator.

One popular option available at Amazon is the Agri-Fab 48-Inch Tow-Behind Lawn Plug Aerator ($379.99). As you tow it, the tines spin and penetrate the ground up to 3 inches in depth, pulling plugs of soil and creating room for better air and water access for the grass roots. You should also receive improved results during overseeding after removing soil plugs, as well as with topdressing the lawn with sand and compost.

One customer reviewer said the unit worked perfectly for pulling soil plugs before overseeding, and its one-time purchase price (along with buying the seed) was cheaper than the price quote a pro provided. Another reviewer said using this machine was so easy, it's "the kind of thing [where] you ask yourself, why didn't I get one sooner?" Another reviewer said the plugs are deep enough to ensure the new application of grass seed doesn't wash away, making it one of the best ways to overseed your lawn.

Many of the customers who had good results with the Agri-Fab aerator said they have large lawns. If you have a large area to aerate, a pro will charge you quite a bit, meaning there's a better chance that this unit could pay for itself relatively quickly. According to Angi, the cost range for aeration is $75 to $200 for a typical lawn. Using an aerator this large on a small lawn probably won't work well, as it's difficult to turn and maneuver tow-behind models. Manual aerators work better in smaller spaces.

Several reviewers mentioned a few challenges with assembly because so many parts are involved. If you set aside plenty of time and have patience, though, installation should go well. Several customer reviewers recommended wearing protective gloves during assembly because the tines are extremely sharp. "I was very careful and still managed to cut myself. Wear gloves. Trust me," one reviewer said.

To drive the tines into the ground, the aerator has a tray across the top, allowing you to add weighted items. The tray can manage up to 140 pounds, and if you don't add enough weight, it could explain why the aerator is not pulling plugs. Some reviewers said they used concrete blocks on the tray, secured with bungee cords, to supply the weight. Other users suggested using bags of sand instead to avoid scratching the metal on the weight tray, while some cut a piece of old carpet to fit the tray and protect it.