Renting
Renting a lawn aerator or dethatcher
When to aerate, core versus spike aerators, how to move a 200-pound machine, and why splitting the rental with a neighbor is the normal move.
Core aeration is a once-a-year job that makes the biggest difference to a compacted lawn, and the machine is a once-a-year rental for the same reason. Most people do it in early fall, right before overseeding.
Core versus spike
- Core aerators pull plugs of soil out. That is the one you want for compacted clay.
- Spike aerators poke holes and can make compaction worse. Skip them.
- A dethatcher or power rake removes the dead layer on top; use it before aerating if the thatch is over half an inch.
The day of
- 1Water the lawn the day before so the tines pull full plugs.
- 2Mark sprinkler heads and shallow cables.
- 3Two passes at right angles for a compacted lawn.
- 4Leave the plugs; they break down in a couple of weeks.
Moving it needs two people and a ramp; ask the owner how they load it. Then find an aerator near you.
Frequently asked
When should I aerate?
Cool-season grass: early fall, or spring as a second choice. Warm-season grass: late spring.
Can I aerate a new lawn?
Wait at least a year after seeding or sodding.
Borrow it from a neighbor instead.
Deposit-protected bookings, priced by the day.
More tools to rent from neighbors
Priced by the day, deposit-protected, from people nearby.
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