Aerating your lawn is an essential part of maintaining its health. Failing to do this will result in water, nutrients and air being unable to penetrate through any built up thatch and compacted soil. While you can aerate your lawn manually, it’s far better to use the correct equipment and look at lawn aerator rental options.
If you’ve been wondering where to rent an aerator then you’re in the right place. Here, we will be discussing where to look and what you should consider when renting this type of equipment.
It’s important to keep in mind that you shouldn’t aerate your lawn at just any old time; the best time to do it is just before the beginning of growing season. If you’re working with cool season grass then we would recommend aerating this during the late fall or the early spring. However, for warm season grasses, you’ll want to hold off aerating until later in the spring.
You should consider the weather when looking at the best time for aerator rental as the best results will be achieved when aerating a day after you’ve had some moderate rainfall. The ground should not be sodden but needs to be a little damp. If you try to do it when the ground is too wet, you’ll end up in a mess whereas going for it when there’s not enough moisture will affect the abilities of the machine.
What Type Of Lawn Aerator To Rent?
There are two main types of lawn aerator; these are the spike aerator and the plug aerator. We would highly recommend looking for a plug aerator as these remove a small cylinder of soil out of the ground whereas spike aerators don’t do this. They will still get the job done and will improve the flow of nutrients and water but the ground around the hole tends to compact more, giving you a much less desirable result.
As well as the type of yard aerator you’re looking to rent, you’ll want to consider if they have a dethatching capability and the type of power it relies on. There are three options to consider here so let’s take a closer look at each one.
Pull Behind Aerator
If you are looking for the most affordable option then a pull behind aerator is likely going to be the best choice for you. However, you will only really benefit from one of these if you already have a ride-on lawn mower as the aerator must be attached to the back of the mower.
The good thing about this is that you can combine the two jobs, mowing first and then pulling the aerator over directly afterwards. This is an excellent choice for larger gardens.
While they are super effective, you will need to look at your options and choosing a pull behind aerator rental that has at least two height settings will ensure that, when you are transporting the device, it doesn’t leave holes behind where you don’t want them.
Gas Powered Aerator
The gas powered aerator doesn’t look too dissimilar from a standard push lawn mower but don’t let that fool you into thinking they’re as easy to use. These tools are quite difficult to control so may be better for people who have had previous experience with them. The reason that they are so hard to control is that as they penetrate the ground with a lot of force, they move around quite a lot, especially if there are obstacles like rocks or very compacted areas of soil.
That said, gas powered aerator rental is the obvious choice if you don’t have a ride on lawn mower. Just keep in mind that they aren’t the quietest and will require a good amount of strength to move them around.
Electric Aerator
There are two options to consider with electric aerators; mains powered or battery powered. Neither of these options have the same amount of power that you’d get from a gas powered aerator but they are much easier to move around, especially when transporting them.
That said, this lightweight design does mean that you don’t get as much force out of the machine when working so typically speaking, you might be better looking for a spike aerator rather than a plug aerator rental, in this case. The good thing is that these tools are much more affordable so are a good choice for people on a budget.
Where To Rent a Lawn Aerator
There are lots of places you can rent a lawn aerator and it vastly depends on what is available in your local area. There are a number of tool rental shops that specialize in loaning out this type of equipment and one of the benefits of using these is that the staff are usually highly trained and will be able to help you make the right choice.
You might also try a home improvement center where you’ll find a lot of different tools on offer. What’s great about these stores is that they are all over the world with big names like The Home Depot being trusted and reputable. Furthermore, you won’t have to travel far to pick up the tool. That said, you won’t have the expertise of a dedicated rental center and the choices may not be as vast.
If you have a good local garden center then they may offer lawn aerator rental. You’ll be able to talk to staff who have a good knowledge of the tools but the selection may be limited. For this reason, it’s always worth calling ahead of time to check that there is a machine available or whether you can reserve one.
How Much Do Lawn Aerators Cost To Rent?
The cost of renting a lawn aerator will vary dramatically depending on where you go as well as the model you are looking to hire. You might expect to pay around $100 for 24 hours, on average but there’s likely also an option to rent for half a day, in which case, you can expect to pay around $65.
As we mentioned earlier, gas powered aerators will typically be more expensive so it might be worth looking at a pull behind or electric model which could be rented for as little as $35 for half a day. Before you make a decision, it’s advisable to talk to the staff and get an idea of what different tools they have on offer and what features each tool has to find the model that is most suited to your needs.
Final Thoughts
Without aerating your lawn, you are preventing essential nutrients and water from being able to penetrate down to the roots. This might sound like just another job and you’ll probably be reeling at the fact that you have to buy ‘yet another garden tool.’ But that isn’t the case since a lot of businesses rent occasional equipment such as the lawn aerator, making life easier and more affordable for you.
