So you have decided that it’s time to start aerating your lawn and begin reaping the benefits of aeration. Awesome. Aeration can really make a difference between a healthy lawn and a struggling yellow mess.
But what type of aerator should you use, plug aerator vs spike? Well, even though they achieve pretty much the same results, there are some noticeable differences. So here’s my breakdown of core aeration vs spike, which will make selecting an aerator that much easier.
What is a Plug Aerator?
A plug aerator, otherwise known as a core aerator, uses hollow metal tubes called tines to remove plugs of soil from the ground. The plugs range from 3-6 inches long and about ½ in diameter and penetrate the ground at the same time. Plug aerators come in both rotary and handheld designs.
Handheld core aerators use a single row of cores spaced at approximately 2-4 inches and are similar to digging in the ground with a spade. So, you press the tool into the ground using the weight and power of one of your feet.
A rotary plug aerator uses the same row of core plugs plus additional cores evenly spaced around the horizontal shaft. So, as the tool moves across the ground, the cores are automatically dug out of the ground and dropped onto the lawn.
What is a Spike Aerator?
Instead of using a core to remove plugs, a spike aerator uses a metal spike or blades to make a hole in the soil without removing any soil. Spike aerators also come in rotary and handheld designs. These aerators have a similar process and outcome as stabbing the ground with a knife or a screwdriver.
Pros and Cons of the Plug Aerator (In My Opinion)
Let’s start out by taking a look at the pros of a plug aerator and see if this design fits your needs.
Pros of the Plug Aerator
Let’s start out by taking a look at the pro of a plug aerator and see if one would suit your needs.
Superior Aeration
If you want the best tool for the job, a plug aerator is definitely the better of the two methods. This is because the larger the core, the more water, air, and nutrients will be able to enter the ground, and more gases will be able to escape. The purpose of aeration, after all, is to reduce the effects of soil compaction, which prevents water, nutrients, and air from penetrating down to the roots. So, a plug aerator is the best option if you want optimal results.
Long Lasting Results
Due to the size of the plugs that are removed during aeration when using a core aerator, the openings stay open for much longer compared to those of a spike aerator. Therefore, your lawn will feel the benefits of aeration for much longer and to a higher degree. In addition, if you use a larger core aerator, you will only really need to aerate twice a year.
Cons of the Plug Aerator
So we know plug aerators are the superior design, but what about the bad stuff? Here are a few cons that might make you think twice when picking between core aeration vs. spike.
Expensive Equipment
Unfortunately, you have to spend more money to get the benefits of a plug aerator. There are handheld versions, but these are very slow and demand a great deal of effort. So, the logical choice is to opt for either a larger self-propelled or towable version. I would say that a good-quality plug aerator can cost nearly double that of a spike aerator, especially if you choose a gas-powered design.
Harder to Operate
Most plug aerators require additional weight to dig the cores into the ground, which can make operating this type of aerator too hard for some people. One of the particular models of plug aerators I have used in the past, a Classen, needed to be lifted to make a turn. This Classen was only the size of a lawn mower but weighed over 200 lbs. So, before you head out to pick up a plug aerator, check that you’ll be able to operate it.
Messy Results
In my experience, you’ll get about 20 or so plugs removed from your lawn in every square foot, so this is a lot of soil sitting on top of your lawn. While it may not look great, you should leave the plugs on the lawn and let them crumble back into the soil. But it will take a while for all the plugs to disappear. So, if you don’t like a messy yard, you might not want to use a plug aerator.
Pros and Cons of the Spike Aerator (Again…Just My Opinion)
Now it’s time to look at the spike aerator and see how they score. Here are my pros and cons for the spike aerator.
Pros of the Spike Aerator
I have owned and used a spike aerator for years, and it certainly gives me good results. But I do have the odd complaint. So let’s start off by taking a look at the pros first.
Easy to Use
The first thing you’ll notice when using a spike aerator is that they are much easier to use, especially the walk-behind models. They are significantly lighter and don’t take nearly as much effort to use. So if you are looking for some easy aeration, a spike aerator is a good choice.
More Affordable Tool
Whenever I want to use a core aerator, I’m always in the hiring department, but not when it comes to spike aerators. For $150, you can get yourself a powered walk-behind or even a towable spike aerator. However, when it comes to plug aerators, $150 gets you a pretty flimsy product that probably isn’t going to last all that long. So if you want value for money, I would go for a spike aerator.
No Messy Clean-Up
Unlike core aerators, spike aerators create very little mess once the job is done. Usually, after the first mow, you won’t even be able to tell you have aerated. This is because the less intrusive design of the spike only tears a little of the grass up and pulls a little dirt out. So, a spike aerator is definitely a lot less messy than a core aerator.
Cons of the Spike Aerator
So far, the spike aerator is sounding pretty good. But as I mentioned before, there are a couple of things I don’t like. Let’s take a look.
Less Aeration Depth
Typically, a spike aerator, especially a residential type, only penetrates the ground a few inches. Now depending on how compacted your lawn’s soil is, this may not be enough. The root system of lawn grass can extend a few feet down into the earth, so only tackling the top couple of inches sometimes doesn’t do much. So if you need to get down further, then a standard spike aerator isn’t going to help. But this doesn’t mean these types of aerators are no good. It just means that they can’t tackle really heavily compacted soil.
Short-Term Solution
If you look at the spike of a spike aerator and the core of a plug aerator, you’ll see a massive difference in width. So, the hole created in the ground with a spike aerator is much smaller. The downside to a small hole is that it will fill back in pretty quickly and begin to compact all over again. The only way to make the effect last longer is to aerate all over again.
So, depending on the soil type, you’ll only need to aerate twice a year when using a good core aerator, whereas you’ll need to aerate 3 to 4 times a year when using a spike aerator. So, if you choose to go the spike aeration route, be prepared to aerate a few times throughout the year.
Factors that Will Impact Your Decision
After looking through the pros and cons, it’s clear how the two different aerators perform and where they both struggle. So, now it’s time to look at the factors you’ll want to consider before making your selection. Here are a few things to think about to help you make the right choice.
Aeration Depth Requirements
An average core aerator will get down to about 6 inches, whereas a spike aerator will typically only get down to 2 or 3 inches. So, if you have particularly poor soil with heavy compaction, you’ll want to aerate as deep as possible. For example, if you have heavy clay soil, the deeper you can aerate, the better. But if your soil is lighter and doesn’t suffer too much from compaction, then a shallower spike aerator could work just fine.
Available Time
As I mentioned before, you will need to use a spike aerator several times throughout the year vs. twice a year with a core aerator to achieve the same results. So if you have less time available to carry out yard chores, then a deep penetrating plug aerator will save you time in the long run. Personally, the more time I spend in my yard, the happier I am.
Cost of Equipment
If you are anything like me, then you like to have all the tools you need on hand in your shed so that you can use them whenever you like. So I have a nice spike aerator sitting in my shed, just waiting to be used. $150 seems like a good investment. But a gas-powered plug aerator of the same width with a 6-inch core is about 25-30 times more expensive, coming in at around $4,000 plus for a good quality machine like a Classen or Billy Goat.
So, there is a big price difference. However, you can hire these expensive machines for about $100 daily. But then you need to be able to get it home.
Ability to Use the Equipment
If you can use a walk-behind lawn mower, you’ll have no trouble using a walk-behind spike aerator like an electric-powered version. They are pretty light and easy to move around. In comparison, plug aerators are much heavier and larger machines.
So, ease of use is definitely a big factor to consider. The last thing you want to do is try to use a machine that is too big and powerful or a machine that you can’t physically maneuver because it’s too heavy. This is a sure way to injure yourself.
Seeding After Aeration
Finally, a lot of people use an aerator to assist grass seed germinating when overseeding a lawn. This is because the loose ground gives the seed a good bed to grow. Now, if you are deciding between spike vs plug aerator for overseeding, then you’ll want to stick with spike aeration. This is because a deep 6-inch hole will be too deep for grass seed as grass seed only wants a very light covering, if anything at all. So, dumping seeds down a deep hole isn’t going to lead to much success.
My Experience of Core (Plug) vs. Spike Aeration (+ Recommendation)
Finally, I have put together this quick table to pull together all the different information and considerations to help you decide between spike aeration vs core aeration. This should help you determine which method is right for you.
| Plug Aerator vs Spike Aerator Factors | Spike Aeration | Plug Aeration |
|---|---|---|
| Typical Depth | 3 inches | 6 inches |
| Average Operation Per Year | 2+ | 1-2 |
| Most Effective | x | |
| Longest Lasting Results | x | |
| Easiest to Use (Walk-Behind) | x | |
| Most Affordable to Purchase | x | |
| Least Messy Results | x | |
| Best Suited Before Seeding | x |
In an ideal world, you want to be able to aerate your lawn as deep as you can on a routine annual schedule. So, the deep plugs of a core aerator really do help. But this doesn’t mean that removing cores is your only option.
For the past few years, I have used my spike aerator a few times a year, then either rented a plug aerator or hired a local contractor to do it for me. I find that for a normal-sized yard, the cost to rent a machine works out to be around the same price as employing a contractor. However, for you guys with larger yards, it will still be more economical to do it yourself and rent a machine, and it will be more fun.
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