Plug Lawn Aerator

[SusanDuffy]

I live in Washington State, and have hard clay soil. If i buy a pull behind the riding lawnmower plug aerator, will it work? I’ll had lots of weight to it. does anyone have experience with this?
Thank you

 

[radas]

If the unit is stout and weighs a decent amount, I don't see why you'd have any trouble. I've used one of those 200lb billy goat Home Depot rentals on 100% clay soil (with 2" topsoil amended prior to sod going in) in the past with no issues. My only advice is to make sure the ground isn't too dry as clay tends to get very tough to do anything in when it's dry. Maybe run the sprinklers or run the aerator after a light rain or two or immediately after snow thaw.

 

[lynnmor]

Plug aerators do a much better job than the spike kind. My first question is; are you going to use the B2601 and with what tires? I doubt that compaction from a tractor can be undone, especially with anything but turf tires.

 

[Lencho]

Hi Susan,
I used a 40” Brinly and then got a 48” Craftsman. Both bought used, both plug style. They work but are not very maneuverable and you can’t easily back up.
I converted the 48” to TPH and resold the 40”.
See this thread:

Aerator, convert tow behind to TPH.

I want to give credit to our friends at Green Tractor Talks for the idea: https://www.greentractortalk.com/threads/convert-drag-behind-aerator-to-three-point.174380/ Here is my version

www.orangetractortalks.com

 

[GreensvilleJay]

re: have hard clay soil.

Maybe 'top dress' at least an inch or two of compost or triple mix before you 'plug' away ??

 

[Downeaster]

I purchased a pull behind model from AgriFab, I got the 48' size, but could easily have done with a shorter 36 or 42 inch size. You can do a lot of aerating with a short version. You just have your tractor in travel, without any running implements, and things go real fast. I do my aerating just before a rain, and then lay grass seed down with a spreader, with some light duty fertilizer. Rain washes the seed and fertilizer into the plug cutouts, the plugs breakdown, and eventually refill the holes.

 

[bbxlr8]

I have one - believe it is an older 54" craftsman. Had it since about 2000 and does a great job but it works best if I load up the weight. Use with my smaller f@rd.

I use a combo of cinder blocks, older bolt-on tractor wheel weights, and any "right-sized" boulders or stone that is handy.

 

[The Evil Twin]

Virginia Clay here. The ground freezes twice- middle if winter in the cold and middle of summer when it's dry. Lol. A 250 lb plug aerator should work just fine.

 

[Crash277]

Virginia Clay here. The ground freezes twice- middle if winter in the cold and middle of summer when it's dry. Lol. A 250 lb plug aerator should work just fine.

Sounds like my yard. ive added 40 tons of top soil and one day want to toss about 60-80 more. I dont worry about having the golf green yard, but the weeds just thrive in the clay.

 

[The Evil Twin]

Sounds like my yard. ive added 40 tons of top soil and one day want to toss about 60-80 more. I dont worry about having the golf green yard, but the weeds just thrive in the clay.

Oh yay. So the 30 yds I have coming aren't gonna do much. Lol!!
Yeah, it's rough. Especially in the full sun areas. Even weeds don't grow there. I'm hoping to do about 8000 Sq feet with the 30 yd of top soil/ compost and mix it all in with a box blade. That area is the worst.

 

[Downeaster]

I have one - believe it is an older 54" craftsman. Had it since about 2000 and does a great job but it works best if I load up the weight. Use with my smaller f@rd.

I use a combo of cinder blocks, older bolt-on tractor wheel weights, and any "right-sized" boulders or stone that is handy.

i Do the same with cinder blocks. I find that while working the tractor and the plug aerator, that you look back and say what have I done to my lawn. However even tearing the lawn up, a week or two later it looks better than ever.

 

[William1]

48" AgriFab, tow behind my Sears Garden tractor. Four filled (with concrete) cement blocks, each weighs probably 60 pounds. I aerate after a rain, I get nice 4" to 6" plugs. Messy job, tires end up with a 2" layer of mud/clay goop. Plan your route, you cannot back up due to the short tongue length.
I do this in the fall and over seed the following day and add fertilizer. All falls in the holes and gets a great root system going for spring.