Learning Center / Choosing a company
Should you rent an aerator or hire a pro?
You can do it yourself if you rent a real core aerator, time it right and seed it properly. Many homeowners find the rental, the hauling and the seeding add up to more work and nearly the same cost as hiring it out.
- By David Obeid, founder
- Reviewed
- 5 min read
The short answer
Is DIY aeration worth it?
It can be, if you use a core aerator and seed right after. The machine is the easy part. Getting the timing, the soil moisture, the seed and the watering right is what decides whether it works.
Spike aerators and aerator shoes don't count. They poke holes without removing any soil, so they don't relieve compaction in clay the way pulling plugs does.
Side by side
What does each option actually involve?
Here is what each path really takes.
| Step | Doing it yourself | Hiring it out |
|---|---|---|
| The machine | Rent a core aerator: heavy, usually needs a truck and two people to load | Commercial core aerator, brought to you |
| Timing | You pick the day and hope the soil is moist enough | Booked into the fall window, mid-September into October |
| Coverage | Multiple passes to pull enough plugs | Done as part of the service |
| Seed | Buy, choose and spread it yourself | Turf-type tall fescue seed spread into the openings |
| Watering | Your job | Still your job, but we walk you through it |
| Cost | Rental, transport, seed and a weekend | Aeration and seed from $279, or included in Timesaver and Lifesaver |
If you DIY
How do you do DIY aeration right?
-
Rent a core aerator, not a spike aerator
It should pull plugs out of the ground.
-
Do it in early fall
Mid-September into October is the best seeding window here.
-
Aerate moist soil
Lightly moist clay gives cleaner, deeper plugs. Bone-dry clay barely lets the tines in.
-
Mark sprinkler heads and buried lines first
The tines go a couple of inches deep.
-
Seed right after
Aeration without seed relieves compaction but doesn't thicken the lawn.
-
Keep the seed moist for two to three weeks
This is the step that most often decides success.
Related questions
What people also ask
Why core aeration instead of spike or liquid aeration?
Core aeration pulls actual plugs of soil out of the lawn, which relieves compaction and creates ideal pockets for seed. Spike aeration and liquid treatments don't remove any soil, so they don't relieve compaction or prepare a seedbed the same way.
How much does professional aeration and overseeding cost?
Standalone aeration and seed starts at $279 and is available August through October. It is also built into the Timesaver and Lifesaver plans. Pricing covers lots up to 5,500 sq ft.
Keep reading
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