Are lawn aerator shoes any good? Lawn aerator shoes are basically shoes that have spikes on the bottom that in theory, help to aerate the lawn while you walk around the lawn doing yard work or mowing. The shoes aren’t necessarily shoes, but more like sandals you strap over your existing shoes. But it’s not a perfect idea.
If you wear them wrong you can easily injure yourself if you step in something sharp or stumble and fall into the grass. In this blog, we also have an article about best lawn aerator on amazon that you might want to read about it.
Are Lawn Aerator Shoes Any Good
“Spiked shoes don’t work because they impact too small an area and further compact already compacted soil,” notes BioAdvanced. Due to the solid nature of the spikes on lawn aerator shoes, they tend to push soil to the side and downward when they enter the lawn, further compacting the soil. While employing lawn aerator shoes will not provide the same turf benefits as using a hollow aerator tool, you should only need to use hollow tines in the spring and fall.
Lawn aeration is the process of puncturing the soil with small holes that aid vital elements, such as air and water, to enter the grassroots.”
Max, author from trees.com
How To Use Lawn Aerator Shoes
Aerator shoes come with two different types of spikes depending on what kind of garden you want to aerate. You choose between “round” or “flat” shoes. Round shoes look similar to gardening clogs and flat ones are just like regular running shoes. They also come in many colors and patterns so you can pick one that suits your style.
The advantage with these is that you don’t have to lift up your feet when using them. Instead, you simply walk around the area where you want to aerate and let the spikes do their job. That means you can weed without bending down or climb up ladders. It also lets you get up and down off the ground without hurting your back.
I used mine mainly for weeding and edging. On the other hand, I would recommend these only for people who have been walking around their gardens for years . If you haven’t walked anywhere regularly for a long time then you might find yourself slipping when trying to avoid stepping on things. And the risk of tripping over those things increases as you age. Which can be quite dangerous!
Which Season Is the Best for Aerating Your Lawn?
Aerating your grass is most effective right before or during periods of rapid growth. If you are working with cool-season grasses such as bluegrass, fescue, or ryegrass, it is better to aerate throughout the spring and fall growth periods. Aeration can be performed on warm-season grasses such as Bermudagrass, buffalograss, St. Augustine, and zoysiagrass between late spring and early autumn.
If you are aerating in the spring, wait until the grass has been mowed several times to guarantee it is growing quickly enough to recover. Aeration should be performed in the fall early enough that the lawn can recover before going dormant for the winter.
Lawn aeration is crucial for a healthy lawn, as it allows air, water, and other nutrients to easily penetrate built-up grass and lawn thatch.”
Fantasticgardeners.co.uk
How Should You Aerate Your Lawn?
If you intend to aerate your lawn on your own, seek for aerators with hollow spikes, such as the Yard Butler lawn coring aerator. The hollow spikes will help to break up compacted soil and create a pathway for moisture and fertilizer to reach the roots. When aerating, Scotts suggests the following:
- The day before aerating, apply 1 inch of water to the grass to soften the soil.
- Mark sprinkler heads, utility lines, and septic lines to avoid these areas.
- For weakly compacted soil, aerate the entire lawn once.
- Go over the lawn twice if the dirt is really compacted.
- Leave the soil plugs that the aerator removed on the lawn. They will decompose and replenish the soil with nutrients.
- After you’re finished, thoroughly water the yard.
These are the greatest natural and organic strategies for maintaining a healthy green lawn.