best BX Aerator $200 - 600? 3PT vs tow?
- Thread starter donn12
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Ron D.
Silver Member
- Joined
- Apr 23, 2009
- Messages
- 110
- Location
- Collin Co. Texas
- Tractor
- 2003 Kubota L2600DT, F13D Yanmar, Sears garden tractor with MMM, older JD Garden Tractor with MMM, Gravely commercial ZTM
I did quit a bit of research on aerators for my lawn by reading many posts here and also on other sites. Without question, it seems you get what you pay for. I didn't want to spend upwards to $1,000, or more, so I "cheaped-out" and bought an Agri Fab tow from Lowes for $219. It was better constructed that what I was expecting, all the parts were there, instructions were excellent and I had it put together within a couple of hours. It is a light unit so if you have hard soil it may not give you the depth you want. I live in North Texas and have a lot of clay mixed into the black soil. In addition, my back yard was extremely packed because of several large dogs. That being said, it did ok.
The unit is rated for an additional 170 lbs that you put in the top tray, which probably gives a total weight including the unit at about 240 lbs (guessing the unit at 70lbs.) I mis-guessed the weight of my concrete landscape blocks, and actually had 260 lbs loaded in the tray on my first use. The additional weight didn't destroy it, but it penetrated better with 260 lbs than it does with 170 lbs. But if you aerate a day after a rain or a good watering, the unit does OK. I can get 2 1/2 to 3 inch plugs with the right conditions, but you have to go slow to get good penetration.
If you can justify $600 to $1,000, your choices increase significantly. I was in the same budget you're looking in, and nothing looked that great so I went with the lower cost for something that appears to have the construction to last several seasons. When I have more money or find that I need more, I'll re-assess.
In general though, it does a good job. I aerated a couple of weeks ago before a good rain, then fertilized, then last week aerated again and top dressed my front lawn with compost, then aerated the compost into the soil. Proabaly not the best sequence or timing, but if you saw my lawn, anything has got to help.
Hope this helps, best of luck.
The unit is rated for an additional 170 lbs that you put in the top tray, which probably gives a total weight including the unit at about 240 lbs (guessing the unit at 70lbs.) I mis-guessed the weight of my concrete landscape blocks, and actually had 260 lbs loaded in the tray on my first use. The additional weight didn't destroy it, but it penetrated better with 260 lbs than it does with 170 lbs. But if you aerate a day after a rain or a good watering, the unit does OK. I can get 2 1/2 to 3 inch plugs with the right conditions, but you have to go slow to get good penetration.
If you can justify $600 to $1,000, your choices increase significantly. I was in the same budget you're looking in, and nothing looked that great so I went with the lower cost for something that appears to have the construction to last several seasons. When I have more money or find that I need more, I'll re-assess.
In general though, it does a good job. I aerated a couple of weeks ago before a good rain, then fertilized, then last week aerated again and top dressed my front lawn with compost, then aerated the compost into the soil. Proabaly not the best sequence or timing, but if you saw my lawn, anything has got to help.
Hope this helps, best of luck.
