I was trawling the garden centers today, when i came across them lawn aerators, the ones that you stand on and it takes a plug of soil out of the lawn, which leaves you to brush sharp sand or something like that back into the lawn, has anyone got one, or used one, if so how did you find it? I have a north facing back garden :'( and it always seems damp and compacted. :)
they use one on the bowling green by our plot, they seem to like it and say it works ;D
Yes I've tried various things and here is how they went.
I have a heavy clay soil btw.
The strap on shoe things with the long spikes, I managed one step then got firmly caught in the lawn wasn't strong enough to lift my foot and get the spikes out I had to sort of fall over and get the straps off. Just relieved I tested it on the back lawn first and not in full view of neighbours :-[
Lawn aerator with line of tines that take out a plug of soil similar to this http://www.selections.com/GF821/hollow-tine-aerator/?utm_source=shopsubmit
I waited till the ground was soft but i wasn't heavy enough (and I'm not that light either!) to get the tines to go more than a cm into the soil.
So that is two things that hang uselessly in my shed!
I use a fork put it in the ground and work it back and forwards so that you make a hole then brush sand on after, this works just as well and saves buying another piece of equipment. Also it's easier to get the fork tines in deeper.
Hi Manic, hi Kea, i find it hard to resist buying another gadget, so i am tempted to buy one,as the soil is damp all year round which should make using it quite easy. The cheap way would be for me to get the fork out. Mmmmm ;)
They're alright unless the ground is turfed over clay and rubble, then it's hard going. Brushing in the sharp sand mixed with the cores that come out made a massive improvement in my garden.
Sounds like they are worth a go JJT, as i've not come across any clay or remotely large stones on my garden.
I used a garden fork on my lawn because it is very stony. I did a little each day using strong boots because it is hard work! Then used a mixture of sand & soil to brush in the holes , it looked a mess for a few days but soon perked up & looked a treat . this was in the autumn though a couple of years ago
When doing this kind of job, whether it be strap-on spikes, ariators or fork, I find it essential to wear a good pair of boots with a solid sole. This allows force to be applied without hurting the feet.
I use my steel toecaps, but walking boots would do. Shoes are just too flexable and flimsy .
I buy most of my tools from car boot sales. I bought one of these for £3 and have seen others at that sort of price. I found it very easy to use and I'm really amazed at how much difference it made to our damp lawn. I used it all over then using a besom (witches broom) brush all the oil cores into the flower beds.
Then tip sharp sand all over the lawn and using the besom brush the sand into the lawn filling the holes and leaving sand on the surface.
It looks like you've made a mess of the lawn at first but the difference in our lawn is amazing, previous winters our lawn has been so wet that it has almost gone bald all over but this year it looks great! ;D