Lawn care recommendations

[Three4Cy]

They actually sell a gizmo that slips onto your shoes and is basically an aerating shoe. But the result is really just a golf shoe with long spikes. So since I already had golf shoes, I just found really long spikes, put them on for just that purpose, then put regular spikes back on.

Anyone who makes money aerating lawns or spends cash to pull the big plugs in their lawn is going to say this is stupid and won't work. My lawn proves otherwise.

Aerator Shoes - V9215 at The Home Depot

[CyCrazy]

They actually sell a gizmo that slips onto your shoes and is basically an aerating shoe. But the result is really just a golf shoe with long spikes. So since I already had golf shoes, I just found really long spikes, put them on for just that purpose, then put regular spikes back on.

Anyone who makes money aerating lawns or spends cash to pull the big plugs in their lawn is going to say this is stupid and won't work. My lawn proves otherwise.

You are right you dont need to do that unless it makes you feel better.
Also havent seen the golf shoe spikes but if that works for you carry on. You just saved alot of money.

[FarminCy]

The plugs left over from aerating are as unsightly as bad grass, imo. Recommendation: golf shoes with longest spikes you can find. Walk around your yard. It's aerated without the plug problem.

De-thatching is unnecessary if you sufficiently mulch, bag or rake and never mow too much off the blades in any given mowing. If needed one time, have it done and then keep up and you'll never need it again.

Good advice. The only reason I de-thatch is to break up and pick up the plugs from the aerator. I hate raking those things.

[CyPride]

The plugs left over from aerating are as unsightly as bad grass, imo. Recommendation: golf shoes with longest spikes you can find. Walk around your yard. It's aerated without the plug problem.

De-thatching is unnecessary if you sufficiently mulch, bag or rake and never mow too much off the blades in any given mowing. If needed one time, have it done and then keep up and you'll never need it again.

I haven't read thru the whole thread, so maybe someone has already answered this. But this is bad advice. the benefit of aeration is in taking the plugs out of the ground, allowing for nutrients, and oxygen to reach the roots, also to break up compaction. Wearing spikes actually compounds the problem as you aren't taking anything out of the ground, you are actually pushing it in. As far as the plugs being 'unsightly' they don't usually last until winter - typically dissolved by then.

[Steve]

His idea really isnt that far off..... Golf courses use solid tines all the time with out pulling cores. And no it doesnt compact the soil around the solid tine.

But yes the golf shoe spike is rather funny, which I would love to see.

I remain unsold on this one. A golf course might do something like this on a green with a sand base designed to be porous and giving. The tine could maybe rearrange the sand grains to leave a void. A lawn is typically some top soil with a clay base. It is much denser without much for void space which is why you want to aerate in the first place. If the tines displace soil, it has nowhere to go other than to become more compacted between the tines.

[Cyclonesrule91]

They actually sell a gizmo that slips onto your shoes and is basically an aerating shoe. But the result is really just a golf shoe with long spikes. So since I already had golf shoes, I just found really long spikes, put them on for just that purpose, then put regular spikes back on.

Anyone who makes money aerating lawns or spends cash to pull the big plugs in their lawn is going to say this is stupid and won't work. My lawn proves otherwise.

You want to talk about falling for a gimmick? The only way your lawn proves otherwise is being able to tell where you walked when mowing your lawn unless you have enough time to make sure every square inch of your yard is covered by your footprint. Hilarious though.....

[CyCrazy]

I remain unsold on this one. A gold course might do something like this on a green with a sand base designed to be porous and giving. The tine could maybe rearrange the sand grains to leave a void. A lawn is typically some top soil with a clay base. It is much denser without much for void space which is why you want to aerate in the first place. If the tines displace soil, it has nowhere to go other than to become more compacted between the tines.

I dont know what "Gold Course" means but I would be willing to bet my life that every course in this state deep tines without pulling cores at some point. And lower scale courses might only deep tine.

[Sterling4Cy]

Aerating is almost always a good move. Dethatching is usually not required and is often even detrimental - let nature do it's thing and break down the organic matter into nutrients for the lawn.

I agree, especially if you live in a new development and your lawn is not well established.