Aerator and Dethatch - finally made a move

[Rich P]

The pictured aerator looks like a spike aerator. The purpose of aeration is to allow nutrients and air into the root systems and to reduce compaction of the soil. Spike aerators actually compact the soil more. A good aerator will take a 1/2" by 3" core out of the soil, opening up the soil to allow nutrients and air in while allowing the roots room to grow in more pourous soil.

 

[BTDT]

Looks like you've done a lot of work there. Nice lawn, compared to the rock infested hill beside where the lawn stops.

 

[c-and-a]

To clear up the confusion - this is a core aerator, not a spike...it pulls about 3" plugs depending upon weight. I agree with one post - spike aerating is a waste of time...

The aerator has welded spoons that are capable of 4" plugging...again depending on weight and compaction of the soil - watering before is a must.

Also - irrigation pipes are typically much deeper that any core aerator would hit, but it will make a big mess of the heads if you hit one. I am currently installing concrete donuts around each of my heads. Not to protect them, but so I can see them and avoid them...

 

[Rich P]

All one has to do before aerating is turn the sprinkler system on each zone for about 5-10 min per zone and flag each head.

 

[c-and-a]

Agreed - but after flagging over 65 heads, getting wet in the process, then removing the flags - I am opting for the concrete donuts

 

[Rich P]

With concrete donuts, what are you going to do when you break a sprinkler head and need to replace it?

 

[c-and-a]

They are just that donuts - they are 6" OD & 3.5" ID - 2" deep so they just sit around the top 2" of the head...

 

[chrisjbell]

How does that thing eject the cores it pulls? With the one at work, it punches straight up and down, so each plug pushes the last one out of the tine. With yours, I don't get how that would work? Maybe a close up pic of the tines would help me understand?

For 500 bucks, if it really does core well that is a great deal...I'm intrigued!

 

[dwenham]

I've been wrong before, but it looks like the plugger is open-ended and the old plug would be ejected by the new plug each rotation. If so, it would be WAYYYYY les complex than a typical plug aerator. If I'm looking at it correctly, I'd sure be curious to see if it can operate in heavy clay. (Moist of course, dry, a jackhammer wouldn't work in our soil.) Dave

 

[MIKEKUBOTA]

From whom did you purchase the Leinbach core aerator? Did the price include shipping?