Aerators for Sale

- Has anyone used aerator shoes/sandles for their lawn and do they work?
I would like to plant grass seed. I can't rake the soil because it is rather hard. I heard there are aerator spikes that you put over your shoes and walk on the grass. It is supposed to make holes in the ground so the seeds go in and it aerates the lawn at the same time. Has anyone used these and do they work well?

A They're nothing but a gimmick...They don't work at all, so don't waste your money. Rake your grass well and get rid of thatch on top. Then spread some triple mix and compost on top of your grass and bare areas over the grass seed that you plant. Water well, (don't let it dry out completely), and in a week or so, you'll have nice grass sprouting. Remember to leave the grass clippings on your lawn for free nitrogen when you cut the lawn.

- 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.

A 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.