Best Lawn Aerators: Manual Models and Powered Machines in the UK

Review & Comparison, Last Update October 1, 2024
If you want your lawn to please you with beautiful healthy grass, lawn aeration should be carried once or twice a year (usually in autumn or spring). We’ve picked out 5 top aerators for lawns that can make this process easier and more effective. ...Read more ...Read less
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BEST 2024
PROS
CONS
OUR VERDICT
Type
Features
Working Depth
Number of Tines
Weight
Warranty
 
PROS

An ergonomic handle and wheels allow you to manoeuvre on your lawn almost effortlessly. The working width of 32 cm enables you to aerate the needed area quite fast. A large 40-litre collection box adds to the usability. 

CONS

The use is limited to electric supply and the length of power cord. 

OUR VERDICT

If you need to aerate large lawn areas, you'll hardly find a better model than the VonHaus 2-in-1 appliance. Two interchangeable attachments, combined with great working depth adjustment and elaborate design, allow you to aerate your lawn with minimum efforts.  

detailed parameters
Type

Electric

Features

Foldable handle, Wheels, Working depth adjustment, Removable collection box

Working Depth

Scarifier: 4 to -4 to -8 to -12 mm

Aerator: 11 to 3 to-1 to -5 mm

Number of Tines

Scarifier: 16

Aerator: 20

Weight

8.5 kg

Warranty

2 years

PROS

Thanks to a great number of spikes and wide working width, lawn aeration with this Greenkey roller will become a matter of minutes. A comfortable non-slip grip makes the process even more convenient. 

CONS

Might appear to be inefficient on dry soil due to its light weight. 

OUR VERDICT

This affordable yet reliable rolling aerator works way faster than most of its non-powered rivals. This has been achieved by fitting the unit with a wider roller and a greater number of spikes. Opt for the Greenkey Garden aerator and make damp soil aeration the easiest thing ever.

detailed parameters
Type

Roller

Features

Wide handle, Removable tines

Working Depth

45 mm

Number of Tines

40

Weight

2.8 kg

Warranty

30 days

PROS

The hardened plastic base with a reinforced heel offers better stability and overall durability. Meanwhile, all spikes are removable for quick and easy cleaning (the wrench is included).

CONS

Putting them on is somewhat tricky.

OUR VERDICT

The WIPHANY aerator shoes are a fairly simple yet practical and impressively effective aerating tool that will take the strain off out of the manual aeration process. Saving you the need to push the rolling aerator in front, it will let you achieve pretty much the same results.

detailed parameters
Type

Aerator shoes

Features

3 straps with metal buckles per shoe, Hardened plastic base, Full assembly instructions and tools included

Working Depth

50.8 mm

Number of Tines

13 on each shoe

Weight

~ 1 kg

Warranty

100% satisfaction guarantee

PROS

Durable metal tines are strong enough to enter even very dry soil. All-metal construction guarantees this aerator will last you a lifetime. 

CONS

Isn't the best tool for use over large areas.

OUR VERDICT

Those who manage to grow a lawn on clay soil will definitely like the Kingfisher RC401 Pro aerator. Wide tines create large holes letting more air into the lawn root system. Thanks to durable metal design, the tool is ideal for years of use.  

detailed parameters
Type

Pitchfork

Features

Pedal-like crossbar for convenient handling

Working Depth

~ 150 mm

Number of Tines

5

Weight

1.9 kg

Warranty

30 days

PROS

Each shoe is equipped with three straps for a reliable attachment. Metal fasteners, combined with firm straps, provide durability and ease of use.

CONS

Soil might remain on the soles. 

OUR VERDICT

Mix business with pleasure using lawn aerator shoes from ZDTech. Lightweight, adjustable, long-lasting, and easy to use, these shoes will make your lawn as green and healthy as never before.

detailed parameters
Type

Aerator shoes

Features

6 adjustable straps, Metal fasteners, Removable tines

Working Depth

45 mm

Number of Tines

13 on each shoe

Weight

~ 0.9 kg

Warranty

30 days

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VonHaus 2 in 1 Corded

Complex Treatment for Larger Lawns

If you’re an owner of a middle-sized or large lawn, consider the VonHaus 2-in-1 model. Powered by electricity, it will make an easy job of taking care of your lawn, requiring no elbow grease from you.

As it is easy to guess from its name, this tool doubles as a lawn aerator and a scarifier thanks to the two interchangeable attachments that come in the box. The 16-tine scarifying roller not only allows you to remove thatch and moss from your lawn but also helps better air and water penetration by making deep holes in the soil. The aerating roller, in turn, comes equipped with 20 spikes that help clean the lawn from leaves, moss, and other debris. The debris is neatly collected into a 40-litre bag for further disposal.

The maximum working width of both attachments is 32 cm, which allows the aerator to make wider paths in one go and cover bigger areas in a shorter amount of time. Don’t overlook the possibility of adjusting the working depth, an ergonomic handle with a non-slip grip, and manoeuvrable wheels for hassle-free navigation.

In brief, this model from VonHaus is a great combination machine that offers complex treatment for a larger lawn and will bring your lawn care to the next level.

Review of VonHaus 2 in 1 Corded Electric Scarifier / Aerator

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price £119.99
Stock In stock
ASIN B01BGZA73W

 

Greenkey Garden and Home Rolling

Affordable Lawn Care

The Greenkey rolling aerator is all about efficiency, usability, and affordability. Even though it might somewhat lack performance on the clay soil due to its lightweight design (2.8 kg), it will surely impress you with its cultivating capabilities when used on the moist and soft soil. With that, lower overall weight will make it easy to handle and you won't feel fatigued even after extended use.

Fitted with a 300-mm roller, the Greenkey rolling aerator covers quite a wide area at a single path. However, it best suits for aerating smaller and middle-sized lawns since it is not powered by electricity. If you do decide to treat larger areas, it will be a more challenging task that will require more time and effort from you to complete it, given its manual operation.

To proceed, the Greenkey rolling aerator comprises 40 tines 45 mm each to ensure deeper penetration into the soil for better aeration and healthier grass growth. Since it is a push lawn aerator, you will have complete freedom of movement and will be able to keep aerating as long as you've got the energy to do that.

To conclude, if you need a practical and budget-friendly lawn aerator for home use, you can't go wrong with this easy-to-use manual tool.

Review of Greenkey Garden and Home Rolling Lawn Aerator

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price £45.70
Stock In stock
ASIN B000TAOZKC

 

WIPHANY (JM-GARDEN-102)

Practical and Efficient Tool

While electric aerators are quite pricey and forks are back-breaking and fatiguing, aerator shoes are a practical device that uses a bit different aeration approach. If you have a smaller lawn around your house and want to save both budget and effort on aerating it, the WIPHANY aerator shoes are surely worth a try.

When attached right to your normal shoes, this straightforward and simple device will let you aerate your lawn by simply stomping over it. No strain to push or drag the rolling aerator around or digging the fork in, just walk across your lawn. As you go, its sharp spikes will get 50 mm deep into the ground to make fine holes and puff the soil up, which, in fact, is deeper than most manual and electric aerator rollers. So the aeration efficiency provided by the WIPHANY shoes is easily comparable to that of more expensive counterparts.

Though the aerator comes disassembled and you’ll have to screw on all the spikes and install the straps, it won’t take you much time. Besides, a matching wrench is already included in the set. In the meantime, unlike many similar models, the WIPHANY shoes snugly fit virtually any shoe size. Durable straps with metal buckles will keep the shoes in place and reinforced heels will add stability and prevent the shoes from sliding off as you walk. And the hardened plastic base will survive years of active use without bending or getting damaged.

All in all, the WIPHANY aerator shoes are a highly practical and very efficient device that will make lawn aeration as easy and affordable as possible.

Review of WIPHANY (JM-GARDEN-102) Garden Lawn Aerator Shoes
Last updated price £15.99
Stock In stock
ASIN B01IW0YT06

 

Kingfisher RC401 Pro

Aerate Dry Soil With Ease

If your lawn grows on pretty soil high in clay or you live in a rather dry climate, more likely than not, the aeration process for you is a real challenge. If so, we recommend you to consider the Kingfisher RC401 aerator specifically designed for the use in harsh conditions.

Thanks to stable construction and durable materials the tool is made of, this aerator is ideal for application on dry soil. Due to a metal design, the Kingfisher RC401 stands strong against the extended use in heavy-duty conditions and will deliver as new even after years of regular use. Besides, it is capable of digging into the soil much deeper than most of its peers with thinner and finer tines.

By appearance, the Kingfisher RC401 resembles a pitchfork. However, there are certain features that make it different. First things first, unlike regular pitchforks, the tines on this tool are hollow inside and have pointed tips, which allows you to push them deeper into the ground for better aeration. And secondly, it has a sturdy horizontal crossbar above the spikes where you can rest your foot to push the fork, making the whole process much more convenient. 

To put it in a nutshell, solid and durable, the Kingfisher RC 401 aerator is a real find for lawns growing on tougher and drier ground.

Review of Kingfisher RC401 Pro Lawn Aerator
Last updated price £17.35
Stock In stock
ASIN B0060LSEQU

 

ZDTech Quick and Convenient

Genius Lies in Simplicity

If taking care of your lawn is what you really enjoy doing, we suggest that you consider the ZDTec lawn aerator. With this tool, making chores a pleasure has become more than real. The ZDTech is yet another model that stands apart from classy aerators with rollers, wheels, and push handles. A pair of laced lawn shoes you should wear over your other boots while walking across the lawn, it will do a great job on aerating the lawn while you'll be able to enjoy a breath of fresh air.

Thanks to the convenient adjustable straps, the ZDTech pads fit all shoe sizes while the sturdy metal buckles make sure they do not slip off the shoes during use. When it comes to the shoes, they have a heavy-duty sole, durable woven straps, and metal fasteners, so you can rest assured they will last and remain functional for several seasons of use. All the components of these shoes are detachable. So even if the spikes get clogged with soil and grass, cleaning them won't be a hassle at all. Speaking of which, 26 spikes can get into the soil as deep as 45 mm, ensuring the kind of aeration efficiency that you'd get with rolling models.

To sum it up, by choosing this fairly simple aerator from ZSTech, you'll make a wise investment in your lawn health without spending a lot of money.

Review of ZDTech Quick and Convenient Lawn Aerator Shoes
Last updated price $0.00
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B01DKELYHK

 

What Is a Lawn Aerator?

If you grow your own lawn, you know first hand how challenging this task may be. Even if you water and mow it regularly, creating and maintaining favourable conditions for it to grow isn't always easy. Therefore, if you've noticed that some areas of your lawn look too dry or too damp, buying an aerator can be the answer. These tools typically differ in types, designs, and sizes, but they all work based on the same operating principle, that is, they create holes in the soil to provide the root system of your lawn with more air and water necessary for healthy growth. Generally, it is recommended to aerate the lawn once a year, in spring or in autumn, and do it only when it's clean of dry leaves, moss and other debris. Now, all you're left to do is get a lawn aerator that will best suit your needs. Hopefully, in our selection, you'll find what you need.

To keep your lawn neat and beautiful all year round, you may also want to invest in a good leaf vacuum cleaner and lawn mower.

Sources:

1. How to Use a Lawn Aerator, eBay. December 2, 2015.

2. Lawn Aeration, TruGreen. April 16, 2013.

3. How To: Aerate Your Lawn, BobVila.

4. Kathleen Roberts Lawn Aeration, LoveToKnow.

5. Lawn Aeration Tips and Techniques, STIHL USA.

6. Aerator Buying Guide, eBay. January 13, 2016.

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Publish Date: 2017-08-09 07:29:46