Do pull behind spike aerators work?

Aeration is an important part of lawn care and maintenance. It helps reduce soil compaction, improves drainage, increases oxygen levels in the soil, and promotes healthier grass roots. A core aerator pulls plugs or cores of soil out of the ground, leaving small holes behind to allow air, water and nutrients to better reach the grass roots. However, core aerators can be heavy, cumbersome and expensive to rent or buy. A pull behind spike aerator offers a more affordable and easier to use option for the average homeowner. But do spike aerators actually work as well as core aerators? Let’s take a closer look.

What is a spike aerator?

A pull behind spike aerator is towed behind a lawn tractor or ATV. It rolls over the lawn on drum-style rollers that have solid spikes or tines attached. As it rolls, the spikes punch holes into the soil but do not remove cores of soil like a core aerator does. The holes left behind provide pathways for air, water and nutrients to penetrate the soil down to the grass roots.

Spike aerators are lighter weight, more maneuverable and less expensive than core aerators. They utilize a “punch and poke” action that is less disruptive to the lawn surface than core aerators. Homeowners can easily aerate using a pull behind spike aerator in a fraction of the time it would take with a core aerator.

Do spike aerators work as well as core aerators?

Core aerators remove plugs or cores of soil, leaving larger holes for air, water and nutrients to reach the root zone. This is more beneficial for severely compacted soil. However, spike aerators can still effectively penetrate moderately compacted soil. And they provide additional benefits.

Benefits of Using a Spike Aerator

• Creates holes and pathways for improved air, water and nutrient absorption
• Less disruptive to lawn surface than core aeration
• Does not remove or thin out grass like core aeration can
• Leaves behind spikes of soil that break down to top dress the lawn
• Much more affordable price point than core aeration equipment
• Lightweight and easy to use for homeowners
• Can safely aerate early in spring or fall when grass is still growing
• Quickly aerates entire lawn in a fraction of time

For moderately compacted soil, spike aerators can provide excellent aeration benefits. The key is to go over the lawn multiple times in different directions. This ensures the spikes penetrate compacted soil from multiple angles to create the most holes.

When should you use a spike aerator?

Spike aerators work best when:

• Soil compaction is moderate, not severe
• Your goal is to improve drainage, oxygen and nutrient absorption
• You want an affordable aeration tool for frequent use
• You have a medium to large sized lawn
• You want a lightweight, easy to maneuver aerator
• You need to aerate at specific times when grass is growing

For lawns with extreme compaction, very hard soils or those that need significant overseeding, core aeration may work better. Though spike aeration will still provide benefits without major disruption.

Tips for using a spike aerator

Here are some tips to use a pull behind spike aerator successfully:

• Operate when soil is slightly moist, not bone dry or sopping wet
• Make 2-3 passes over the lawn in different directions
• Use an ATV for best power and traction in thicker grass
• Add weight to roller drum for maximum spike penetration
• Adjust spike penetration depth setting as needed
• Maintain slow ground speed for best spike penetration results
• Aerate early spring and fall when grass is growing to recover faster

When to core aerate instead

In some cases, core aeration may work better than spike aeration:

• Extremely compacted clay soils
• Soil compaction deeper than 2-3 inches
• When overseeding or topdressing is needed
• Large, open areas like sports fields
• Golf course greens and tees
• Yards with high foot traffic

Core aerators pull more material from the soil, leaving larger holes for improved air and root development. This can be more beneficial for heavy, compacted clay soils.

Using a spike aerator and core aerator together

There are benefits to using both a spike aerator and core aerator as part of your lawn care. The core aerator can be rented once or twice a year to alleviate deep compaction and overseed. The spike aerator can be purchased and used more frequently – 2 to 4 times a year – for ongoing aeration needs.

The initial core aeration provides deep penetration channels. Follow up spike aerations keep soil oxygenated and roots healthy while grass recovers faster than multiple core aerations.

Conclusion

For most homeowners, a pull behind spike aerator can provide excellent aeration of moderately compacted soils. It penetrates the root zone to facilitate air, water and nutrient absorption while being affordable and easy to operate. Spike aerators work best on lawns with moderate compaction needing routine aeration for improved drainage and root development. While core aerators are still preferred for substantial overseeding or alleviating severe compaction, spike aerators offer an effective and practical aeration option the typical homeowner will use more consistently.

Aeration Method	Benefits	Drawbacks
Spike Aerator	Affordable price Lightweight Easy to operate Less disruptive Can aerate more frequently	Does not remove soil cores Not as effective for severe compaction Not ideal for overseeding
Core Aerator	Removes soil cores Best for heavy compaction Allows more seed contact	More expensive Heavy and harder to use More disruptive to lawn Cannot aerate as often

In summary, pull behind spike aerators provide an affordable and effective way for homeowners to aerate and improve their lawns. When used properly and frequently, spike aerators can penetrate compacted soils and turf to facilitate air, water and nutrient movement. While core aerators still excel in some situations, spike aerators work well for typical homeowners needing routine aeration. Their ease of use and low cost enables aerating consistently to maintain healthier grass roots all season long.