Aerators and dethatchers represent an important facet of any complete turf-care regimen, relieving soil compaction and thatch issues that can leave grass starved of oxygen, water, and nutrients.
Read More (About Aerators & Dethatchers)
Aerators and dethatchers are popular among homeowners, lawn care services, and grounds maintenance operations that oversee residential and commercial properties, golf courses, sport pitches, and parks.
Whereas aerators help relieve issues related to thatch and soil compaction that essentially cut the soil off from needed oxygen, water, and nutrients, dethatchers tackle problems related to thatch, or the dead grass, roots, and other debris that collects and mattes between the soil and grass. If not treated, thatch also prevents air, water, and nutrients from reaching roots but can also promote the breeding and spreading of turf-damaging insects and diseases.
Available in self-propelled (walk-behind and stand-on) and towable models (pulled by mowers, utility vehicles, or other vehicles), aerators essentially poke holes in the soil to enhance water, air, and nutrient penetration, thereby feeding roots and promoting new growth. While some aerators use tines and blades to create slices in the soil, other models using hollow tines to remove a “plug” of soil measuring anywhere from 5 to 12.5 centimetres (2 to 5 inches).
In addition to combatting soil compaction, aerating is also touted for helping breakdown thatch, bolstering heat and drought tolerance, establishing stronger and deeper roots, and improving the efficiency of fertilisation and irrigation efforts. Features of aerators can include zero-turn abilities for stand-on models, multiple tine options, adjustable rollers, turf tires, power take-off (PTO) support, optional seeder attachments, and more.
Before aerating a lawn, many operations use a dethatcher to remove thatch buildup that can leave turf starved of air, water, and nutrients. Many experts advise using a dethatcher particularly if the existing thatch layer measures more than 1.3 cm (0.5 in) deep.
Dethatchers are available in walk-behind and tow-behind models and generally use spring tines or blades (slicer, flail, etc.) to cut through the thatch and bring it to the surface for removal. Billy Goat’s PR550 model, also referred to as a “power rake,” is an example of a self-propelled walk-behind model that incorporates heat-treated, tempered flail blades into a blade reel that removes thatch in 50-cm (20-in) passes.
You’ll find new and used aerators and dethatchers for sale on NeedTurfEquipment.co.uk every day, including top brands like Billy Goat, Exmark, First Products, John Deere, Redexim, Ryan, and Toro.