Faq – About Aerator Shoes
Linda asks…
Aerator Shoes?
What is your opinion of using aerator shoes?
My soil is mostly clay.
Staff answers:
Aerator shoes won’t work for you with a mostly clay soil.
Your best bet is to either get a proper aerator and then top dress with coarse sand.
Drainage is a big issue with clay and you have to get proper plugs of soil out in order to get the drainage enhancing coarse sand in the holes. Those shoes don’t get big enough plugs out and besides, it’s tough to walk on them!!!!
Maria asks…
Has anyone used aerator shoes for their lawn?
My lawn has hard claylike soil and I want to aerate it. I searched for info and have seen differing opinions on the effectiveness of the shoes. But, I don’t want to go to the expense of buying or renting a machine because I don’t have that big of a yard.
Staff answers:
Strap on aerator shoes are useless for the job, they just rip up the turf.
Better to buy a roller type which you push around.
The very BEST way though, is to use a garden fork, sink it into the soil as far as you can, wiggle it about making holes with the tines, then move 4-6 inches and repeat.
You can do this where there are patches of dead grass too.
It’s not easy but it really works by loosening the soil and letting air and rain in.
If you can do it pre winter, rain and frost gets in and come the spring, fresh grass will be sprouting.
Sharon asks…
How can you aerate the lawn without renting one of those gas powered lawn aerators?
I heard that you can rent or by shoes with spikes on them or there is a liquid form that you spread over your lawn that does the same thing?
Does anyone have any more information on these two avenues and where to buy them?
Thanks
Staff answers:
I’ve heard of people doing it with their golfing shoes. They also make a manual tool for it but you could probably improvise by using anything with sharp points, like a pitchfork, metal rake, hand tiller or garden claw.
Courtesy of Y!Answers