Why a Lawn Aerator?

According to the Virginia Cooperative Extension, the primary benefit of aerating your lawn is to give the soil plenty of air, stimulating root growth. Especially true for clay soils and lawns with little or no topsoil, a lawn aerator digs holes into the ground to improve circulation and nutrient absorption. As you might expect, there are several types of aerators and several schools of thought on the best way to accomplish this mission.The 'Five-speed' Aerator When we say 'five speed,' we mean strapping on a pair of lawn aerator shoes and walking your property in neat lines. Aerator sandals are designed exactly as they sound--a pair of plastic sandals with a series of spikes protruding from the soles. As you walk, the impressions of the spikes creates that spongy layer of soil that healthy lawns love. The pros? Eco-friendly operation with no gas required. Detractors say that sandals actually compact the soil even further; but even they admit that it's better than doing nothing at all. ...  more