These Are The Best Lawn Aerators
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Best electric aerator - VonHaus 2 in 1 Electric Lawn Scarifier and Aerator[ CHECK FOR DEALS ]
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Best hollow tine lawn aerator - Swardman Professional Stainless Steel Hollow Tine Lawn Aerator[ CHECK FOR DEALS ]
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Best lawn aerator shoes - Ohuhu Lawn Aerator Shoes[ SAVE 9% ]
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Best Rolling Lawn Aerator & Grass Spiker - Greenkey Rolling Lawn Aerator & Grass Spiker[ CHECK FOR DEALS ]
Read Our Expert Lawn Aerator Reviews
- Entire assembly process takes around 15 minutes
- 1500 W motor is powerful and not prone to overheating when used for long periods
- 8.5 kg is very lightweight so it’s easy to move in and out of storage
- Quieter than most aerators or lawn mowers at 98 dB
- 10 m cable is bright orange so easy to spot in the grass
- It is easy to switch between the scarifying and aerating roller
- Aerating function isn’t as effective as the scarifying function
- Need to undo screws to change between aerator and scarifier roller
- Type
- Electric
- Aerating Method
- Spikes
- Spikes / Tines
- Not listed
- Weight
- 8.5kg
- Design
- 5
- Performance
- 4.5
- Ease of Use
- 4.5
- Value for Money
- 4.5
Designed primarily for medium size areas, this VonHaus 2 in 1 Electric Lawn Scarifier and Aerator is a great budget option if you’re after an electric machine. It’s particularly useful as a scarifier, although the aerator works well in certain contexts.
This lawn aerator has a 32 cm working width, making it suitable for small/medium gardens, and four depth settings ranging from 4-12 mm. There are two interchangeable rollers included, one for scarifying and the other for aerating, which need to be swapped out depending on the function you want to use. To swap the rollers, you use the included Allen key to undo two screws (and tighten them up again).
This model has a powerful 1500 W motor and its scarifying function is very effective. It removes a large amount of thatch and dead grass from the lawn. The aerating roller isn’t quite as effective, though it will work well on lawns requiring more serious maintenance. The aerator churns up the grass, so it isn’t as practical to use on lawns that are already reasonably healthy.
Weighing just 8.5 kg, this lawn aerator is one of the lightest on the market. It also runs slightly more quietly than other electric machines on this list (though only just), producing 98 dB.
Assembly takes just 15 minutes and it comes with a 28 L grass bag as well as a generous 10 m cable. The power cable is bright orange which means it is visible in the grass as well.
Overall, I’d say this is a great product for lawn maintenance on a budget, and it will certainly improve the health of grass. However, it’s generally better suited to use as a scarifier than an aerator. It’ll help grass breathe by removing thatch and moss, but you may find that the aerator roller churns up the ground too much.
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2. Swardman Professional Stainless Steel Hollow Tine Lawn Aerator
Best hollow tine lawn aerator
- Tines are open faced so plugs of soil don’t get stuck
- Removes long 13 cm soil plugs
- Durable stainless steel construction
- Tines are easily replaceable and can simply be screwed in
- Foot bar makes it easy to push aerator into the ground
- Ground needs to be fairly damp for this tool to work
- T-handle is quite narrow and may be uncomfortable for those with larger hands
- Slow method of aerating is best for smaller lawns
- Type
- Manual
- Aerating Method
- Corer
- Spikes / Tines
- 3
- Weight
- 2.5kg
- Design
- 4.5
- Performance
- 5
- Ease of Use
- 4
- Value for Money
- 4
Although this Swardman Professional Stainless Steel Hollow Tine Lawn Aerator is more expensive than the other hollow tine aerators featured here, it’s been designed to last a lifetime. It’s made from pure stainless steel and has three hollow tines that are easy to empty.
This lawn aerator works exceptionally well thanks to the design of the tines. They aren’t solid tubes, like most plug aerators, but are ‘open faced’ instead. This means that soil is very unlikely to get blocked in them, but it’s exceptionally easy to remove if it does.
The hollow tines are long, removing plugs of soil to a depth of 13 cm, and reasonably wide at 1.6 cm across. The holes they create allow water, oxygen and fertiliser to get deep into the soil and improve the health of your lawn.
One of the best things about this aerator is how durable it is. The tines are easily replaceable if needed, and the body of the aerator is extremely solid. There’s a small area where you can place your foot so your weight will sink the tines into the soil.
The only downside to this aerator is that the T-handle is a little narrow so users with larger hands may find it uncomfortable. There are no grips on the handles either, so it doesn’t quite offer the same comfort as padded garden tools.
Nevertheless, this is one of the best aerators if you want an efficient, hollow-tine aerator. It’s a great choice for small lawns and its design helps avoid the blocked-tine problem of other hollow aerators.
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- Allows aerating to be done at the same time as other jobs in the garden
- Anti-slip pads offer user good grip on your shoes even when the grass is wet
- Versatile sizing - Velcro straps make them adjustable to any shoe size
- Relatively easy to walk in once you learn the best technique
- Good quality straps that are easy to fasten
- Shoes worn underneath must be secured very tightly to prevent them from coming off
- Requires quite a lot of effort to pull your foot out of the ground whilst keeping your balance - can become tiring over time depending on condition of soil
- Much easier to use if the lawn is thoroughly watered before use
- Type
- Manual
- Aerating Method
- Spikes
- Spikes / Tines
- 13 each shoe
- Weight
- 0.98kg
- Design
- 5
- Performance
- 4.5
- Ease of Use
- 3.5
- Value for Money
- 4.5
One of the most efficient (and fun?) ways to aerate your lawn, these Ohuhu Lawn Aerator Shoes are wearable aerators. These spiked aerator ‘shoes’ attach to the bottom of your regular shoes using velcro straps. Simply walk around the garden, and the spikes at the bottom will be pushed down into the soil under your weight.
These aerator shoes take a lot of effort out of a notoriously arduous task, and they can even be used at the same time as tackling other gardening jobs. For example, you can wear these aerator shoes whilst you hang out the washing – taking on two tasks at the same time!
There are 13 metal spikes on each shoe, approximately 5 cm long, which penetrate into all types of soil for efficient aerating. These spikes are also replaceable, just in case any get lost.
The size of these shoe attachments is fully adjustable thanks to the Velcro straps. They can be adjusted to fit both male and female shoe sizes, although your shoes underneath should be secured very tightly to prevent them from coming off.
Whilst these aerator shoes are fairly easy to use, it’s worth noting that they work best if your lawn is watered thoroughly before use. When the soil is very dry, the spikes can be difficult to push into the ground. You’ll also need to get used to walking in these aerator shoes, as it can be a little hard to maintain balance.
There are anti-slip pads on the part of the shoe that connects to the sole of your own shoes, helping to prevent slipping.
If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to tackle lawn aeration, these are some of the best aerators available. They certainly offer a more interesting way to tackle the lawn, and they’re perfect for busy gardeners as well. You can tackle other tasks whilst simultaneously completing some essential lawn maintenance.
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4. Greenkey Rolling Lawn Aerator & Grass Spiker
Best Rolling Lawn Aerator & Grass Spiker
- Narrow 30 cm width makes it easy to manoeuvre around smaller gardens
- Large metal spikes are high quality and durable - strong enough to take the pressure of being pushed into the ground
- Handle can be removed to make storage easier
- Long handle helps avoid having to stoop whilst using
- Supplied tools for assembly are slightly low quality so you'll need to use your own tools
- Assembly can take a long time, up to two hours, and require a lot of patience
- Quite lightweight so doesn't push down easily into the ground, especially if it's too firm
- Type
- Manual
- Aerating Method
- Spikes
- Spikes / Tines
- 30
- Weight
- 2.8kg
- Design
- 5
- Performance
- 4.5
- Ease of Use
- 4.5
- Value for Money
- 5
For an easier way to aerate the lawn than using a standard garden fork, this Rolling Lawn Aerator gets the job to be done with a simple push motion.
It has 30 metal spikes in total, which are each 45 mm long, and works well to aerate moist ground. Alongside this, the rolling lawn aerator is 30 cm wide, so it’s narrow enough to manoeuvre around smaller areas. As a result, this is one of the best aerators for small gardens.
In terms of effectiveness, this rolling lawn aerator needs to be used on damp/moist ground in order to give a good result. This is because it’s relatively light, at 2.8 kg, so the spikes don’t easily penetrate hard ground. It’s either necessary to wait until after rainfall, or water the ground first, before aerating.
The metal spikes are tough and strong, so produce good results, but assembling them on the rolling aerator can take a while. Assembly is probably the biggest downside to this rolling lawn aerator, as the supplied spanner is very low quality and several additional tools will be required.
There are instructions included, but they’re not overly clear, and a lot of patience is needed to screw all of the pieces together. Some customers have cited a total construction time of between 40 minutes and two hours.
Assembly aside, this rolling lawn aerator has the potential to be effective and improve the appearance of the lawn. It’s the best aerator if you want a rolling, manual model for small gardens.
The most important thing to bear in mind is the hardness of the soil whilst using it. This rolling aerator can be used on denser, clay soils as well, but again – the ground needs to be sufficiently damp first.
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How to Choose The Best Lawn Aerator
Lawn aerators improve the appearance of grass over time by penetrating the ground and allowing air and water deeper into the soil. As a result, the roots have better access to nutrients and fertilisers.
There are different types of lawn aerator available, which can produce different results. Below, you will find information about how and when to use an aerator, as well as how to choose the best aerator for your garden.
Benefits of Aerating the Lawn
Aerating the lawn can be beneficial in several ways. The effects can also vary depending on what type of lawn aerator you are using.
If you’re planting new grass seed, aerating before sowing the seeds can give them the best possible start. This is just as true when overseeding as when planting grass seed for the first time.
Loosening the soil, improving the supply of oxygen, and creating good drainage creates a good environment for new grass seed, whilst benefitting any existing lawn.
Using spiked lawn aerators, that pierce the ground, will allow air to reach grass roots as well as water. Grass roots will become stronger which will lead to a healthier lawn that’s better able to withstand heat and drought.Â
Creating pockets that air, water and fertiliser can get into can help improve your lawn’s uptake of nutrients.
READ NEXT: The Best Lawn Feed
If the lawn aerator removes plugs of soil, it will make the soil less compact. This can help grass roots to establish, if they have become overcrowded, improving the health of the grass.
Removing plugs of soil can also help with drainage in compacted ground. If the ground is too compact, water can end up sitting on top of the soil, unable to drain. Not only can this make the garden unpleasant to walk in, but it can damage the grass and soil. Removing plugs of soil will help water drain better.
Some people choose to fill the plugged holes with sand in order to alter the composition of the soil and improve drainage and lawn aeration throughout the area. The sand will eventually spread throughout the soil, carried by worms and ground movement, resulting in a better mix.
Whether this will be beneficial for your soil or not can depend on what type of soil you have. Adding sand to clay soils can cause it to lump together more, not less.
Choosing the Right Type of Aerator
There are 3 main types of lawn aerator on the market – roller spike aerators, tine aerators and spiked shoe aerators.
Roller spike aerators are the most popular type of lawn aerator. Many are simply pushed across the lawn. As the roller rotates, the spikes are pushed into the ground. Spiked lawn aerators are either manual or electric.
Roller spike aerators don’t remove any earth, so they don’t help with compacted soil in the same way as plug aerators. However, they still make holes that allow air, water and nutrients to get closer to the lawn roots. Manual roller aerators can be quite light, which makes it more difficult to keep the spikes in the ground.
Some people choose to add weights to the handles of these manual lawn aerators in order to push them down. Electric aerators tend to be slightly heavier, because they have a motor.
Plug aerators have hollow tines and are usually pushed into the ground using your feet. The hollow tines remove plugs of earth as opposed to just penetrating the soil. These are more effort to use, although they have the benefit of actively removing the soil as opposed to just pushing it to the side.
Removing plugs of earth helps loosen compacted soil and also means that the holes can be filled with lawn sand or a different soil, if you are trying to alter the composition of the ground. If parts of your garden frequently flood, you may benefit from removing plugs of soil, in order to make the ground less compacted.
Finally, there are spiked aerator shoes. These are definitely the best option for those who are looking to up their step count! They’re worn on your feet and will aerate your lawn as you walk around. They could also be worn whilst doing other jobs, like hanging out the washing.
Whilst not the most comfortable of shoes, they can be slipped on over gardening boots without much difficulty. They usually have adjustable straps so will fit almost any shoe size.
READ NEXT: The Best Lawn Rollers
Ease of Use
Electric or petrol-powered aerators are the least physically demanding aerators. The motor will do the brunt of the work. However, they are generally more expensive, and require more maintenance, so they’re only worthwhile if you intend to aerate frequently over larger areas.
Plug lawn aerators can be more tiring to use than rotary spiked aerators. Pushing a plug lawn aerator into the ground can require quite a lot of force, as can pulling it out again. A certain amount of upper body force is required, and this method can be too physically demanding for some people.
Using a rolling lawn aerator is less physically demanding than a plug aerator, as long as the ground is sufficiently soft. They can still be relatively hard work to push, especially as they need to be driven into the ground. As mentioned above, putting weights on a spiked lawn aerator can help, but of course this will make it more taxing to push.
Spiked aerator shoes require a bit of getting used to, and some leg muscle as well, to pull the spikes out of the ground. But they can be a good way to cover small areas. You just need to be careful not to wear the shoes on any hard surfaces, as the spikes can bend and break. These shoe aerators won’t create as deep a hole as other types.
READ NEXT: Lawn Care Tips
Lawn Aerator FAQs
Most lawns will benefit from being aerated on an annual basis, although those that are used heavily may require an additional aeration. New lawns will need to be aerated more often.
There are two ideal times in the year for aerating the lawn: the first is in the spring and the second is in autumn.
During the spring and autumn months, the soil is moist which makes it easier to aerate. Spring coincides with the growing season of the grass, so aerating your lawn in the spring tends to produce better results.
It’s worth keeping an eye on the weather when deciding to aerate. If it’s too wet, the holes will seal quickly so aerating has very little benefit. However, most of the time the problem is that the ground is too dry – it can be necessary to water the soil before aerating.
It’s best to leave the plugs on your lawn if you’ve used a plug aerator. They are full of nutrients and will be broken down on their own after a couple of weeks. If you’re concerned about your lawn looking messy, watering the plugs can help them break them down a little faster.
Spike aerators have sharp tines that penetrate the ground, while plug aerators remove a plug of grass from the soil.
In terms of which is better, this depends on the size of your garden and the soil. Spike aerators provide short term soil decompaction. They are suitable for small gardens and they don’t create any mess on your lawn.
Plug aerators remove small plugs of soil. This means they do a better job aerating, and they provide a more long term decompaction as air spaces are created around your lawn. Plug aerators are suitable for larger lawns with a lot of soil compaction, although they do create more mess than spike aerators – as the plugs are left scattered around the lawn.
It’s important not to mow immediately after lawn aeration. Instead, you should seed and fertilise to make the most of the holes you have created in the lawn. I recommend leaving the lawn mower alone for at least 2 weeks following aerating and overseeding.
If your lawn desperately needs a mow, you’re better off mowing before you aerate.
READ NEXT: The UK’s Best Lawn Mowers
The holes in your lawn should be between 1.5 – 3 cm deep, although some electric aerators have adjustable depths. Ideally the holes should be around 1 cm in diameter.
It’s also important the holes are correctly spaced. For best results, aim for each hole to be under 4.5 cm apart.
Compare Product Features
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VonHaus 2 in 1 Electric Lawn Scarifier and Aerator
- 4.6
- Electric
- Spikes
- Not listed
- 8.5kg
Swardman Professional Stainless Steel Hollow Tine Lawn Aerator
- 4.4
- Manual
- Corer
- 3
- 2.5kg
Ohuhu Lawn Aerator Shoes
- 4.4
- Manual
- Spikes
- 13 each shoe
- 0.98kg
Greenkey Rolling Lawn Aerator & Grass Spiker
- 4.8
- Manual
- Spikes
- 30
- 2.8kg
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