Do lawn aerator shoes really work? Here's the scoop on those spiked aerating attachments worn while mowing the lawn or doing yard work.
Lawn Aerator Shoes: Do They Really Work?
The last time I wore golf shoes with spikes was as a teen — and I wasn’t even on the golf course. I was traipsing around the front lawn of my boyhood home wearing my dad’s golf spikes thinking they might help soften the rock-hard ground. It was futile because the ground was dry and the quarter-inch spikes were too short to penetrate much of anything, let alone concrete-like soil.
Fast forward a few decades and spikes are back. But this time they’re not intended for the links— they’re made for lawn aeration.
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What are Lawn Aerator Shoes?
Lawn aerator shoes are spiked sandals that strap over your shoes or boots. The spikes are generally around 2 inches long and intended to aerate the ground while you mow or walk around doing yard work, alleviating compaction.
Why Worry About Compaction?
Soil compaction can lead to a sparse, weedy lawn. Aeration increases the porosity, allowing water, air and nutrients to penetrate the surface and reach plant roots. Lawn aeration can also help break up thatch, a layer of dead plant material that builds up and impedes grass growth.
Clay soils slowly soak up moisture because there’s less space between soil particles. They can easily become compacted from lawn equipment, foot traffic, children’s play and pets.
Sandy soils are quite porous and rarely need aeration unless you introduce organic matter, such as compost, into the soil. In that case, you would use a core aerator, then top-dress the lawn with a layer of well-sifted compost.
How to Test Compaction
The compacted ground is hard and may feel like walking on concrete. In addition, puddles may form after rain. It is common along pathways where grass is sparse, around gates and along the edges of driveways and sidewalks and along the inside perimeter of a fence where dogs run frequently.
To gauge whether soil is compacted, try this tip from Clemson University: probe the moist soil with a screwdriver. If it penetrates easily, you probably don’t need to aerate. If the screwdriver is difficult to insert, the soil is likely compacted and can benefit from lawn aeration.
Do Lawn Aerator Shoes Really Work?
Since the spikes on lawn aerator shoes are solid, not hollow, they tend to push the soil to the side and downward when they enter the lawn, compacting the soil even more. According to the University of Nebraska, this action actually increases compaction in the soil, rather than improves it. This is particularly true in soils containing high levels of clay and silt. “To do aeration properly you should pull a core of soil out,” Tom Perron of Boyden and Perron, an outdoor power equipment retailer, says. “I can’t see how lawn aerator shoes could be that effective.”
What is the Best Time of Year to Aerate Your Lawn?
Early spring and early fall are optimum times for cool-season grasses commonly grown in the north. Fall is particularly appropriate because it relieves compaction from summer activities, foot traffic and dry weather. Just be sure to aerate early enough in the fall so the turf can recover before going dormant.
For the warm-season grasses found in southern climates, the best time to aerate is late spring or early summer, according to Pennington Seeds. When aeration is done during active growth, Pennington notes grasses recover quickly, filling in areas where the soil was exposed.
What is the Best Way to Aerate Your Lawn?
Use a core aerator with hollow spikes that excavate plugs of soil. This device reduces compaction and creates a pathway for moisture, air and nutrients.
A foot-press aerator is fine for small areas. It presses into the soil manually with your foot, like a spade would. Look for one with three or four hollow cores, which will aerate more effectively than a device with just two hollow cores.
For larger areas, rent a mechanized core aerator from a garden equipment rental company, hardware store or big box store. These machines cover a lot of ground in a short period of time, but they are heavy, so get some help with transport and loading and unloading.
How to Aerate Your Lawn
- Mark any sprinkler heads, utility or septic lines so you can avoid these spots.
- Aerate when the ground is soft — after irrigation or a recent rainfall — which allows the tines to penetrate the ground easier and deeper. Do not aerate when the soil is dry or sopping wet.
- For lightly compacted soil, go over your entire lawn once with the aerator. For seriously compacted soil, go over the lawn twice, preferably in a crosshatch pattern. Pay particular attention to heavily trafficked areas.
- Leave the soil plugs on the lawn to dry, then break them up with a garden rake.
FAQs
How important is aerating a lawn?
The heavier the soil, the more important aeration becomes. If you have heavy clay soil, it may benefit from annual aeration, while sandy soil likely won’t need it. “Aerating your lawn is important to do at least once a season,” Osmar Castillero of Blades Landscaping says. “It’s a great way to get air, water and nutrients to the root systems.”
What is the most efficient way to aerate your lawn?
The most efficient way to aerate a lawn is with a core aerator, which removes plugs of soil and deposits them on the surface, where they will eventually break down and reintegrate with the ground.
When should you avoid aerating your lawn?
Don’t aerate during a drought or hot, sunny summer weather as it will dry out the soil more quickly.
About the Experts
- Tom Perron is a second generation owner of Boyden and Perron, an outdoor power equipment retailer in Amherst, Massachusetts.
- Osmar Castillero is the owner of Blades Landscaping Services, a lawn care and maintenance company in Lowell, Massachusetts. He has over 10 years experience in the industry.
