Aerators for Sale

- Is it safe to use a plug-type lawn aerator over an in-ground sprinkler system?
Damage to sprinkler heads? Plan to use an aerator with 3" plug depth.......

A http://www.lawnaerator.ca/sprinkler-system-and-core-aeration The depth, typically in the 6 to 9 inch range, is well below what many of the aeration machines plunge into the ground and pull out. It would be worth a call to the contractor who installed the irrigation and sprinkler system to find out if there are any areas of the lawn in which they had to lay the piping a little less shallower than normal in order to avoid these areas with the aeration machine. Hopefully, these areas will not be plentiful.

- is it really necessary for "plug aerator" to "plug" the ground as deep as 1 1/2 inches? (if plan to reseed)?
It rained 1 week ago very long ...and very heavy rainfall..but i have waited now till 1 week later and the temps have been fairly cool...especially at night..and the ground is getting a bit dry...but was wondering..is it maybe BETTER to wait for the ground to NOT BE TOO MOIST..BUT NOT TOO DRY....BUT "JUST RIGHT"? how deep the holes need to be really? if it is still plugging the ground 3/4 inch -1 inch deep...and even better the dirt is breaking up too..not just coming solid out of the ground...is this BETTER ,,especially if will be spreading out seed? why people think it has to be moist? ..as this pulls out plugs nearly 2 inches long and they are solid little pieces of mud everywhere. please explain what you can. thanks for your answers!

A If the dirt is breaking up and not coming out solid then I would wonder why you are using a plug aerator in the first place. Normally you use them when you have too much compaction and the water is sitting on the surface for a long time after it rains. It sounds as if you have fairly good soil where you are. The other thing I would mention to you is that after you use a plug aerator you normally would back fill all the holes with a sand like substance so that the water is draining freely to the root level of your grass. If the holes get filled in with dirt again over time then that really defeats the purpose of using the aerator in the first place. Re your comment on the soil being moist, I would think that is so that you get more of the dirt coming out in one piece. Just a guess on that one. If your soil really isn't compacted then maybe you could get away with hiring a roller with the spikes. That would put small holes all around and not leave the mess with the plugs everywhere. It still aerates the lawn and you could seed right over the top. Do you think that might work for you? By the way, I like all your questions, they are always well thought out and I have a feeling that you are an avid gardener. I imagine your place must be just beautiful to look at and spend time in.