Have I Gone Mad???

[Chislenko]

After struggling to use cheap and cheerful hollow tine aerator forks, which just clog up on our clay soil, I have today "forked out" £139.99 (plus postage!!) on a Swardman.

https://www.gardenimports.co.uk/product/swardman-hollow-tine-fork-aerator/

Can't take it with you!

 

[fossyant]

Yes !

 

[dan_bo]

Oi likes thaaaat

 

[Chislenko]

Oi likes thaaaat

Yes, it is the open tines that are it's selling point, apart from quality of material. The cheap ones are closed tines and our clay based soil just gets stuck in the tines.

 

[Milkfloat]

I have am opened tined aerator, it gets completely clogged up within a few seconds and my method for using it now is to just javelin it into the ground where it penetrates a couple of cm if I am lucky. I am not sure if it is the soil where I live or the fact that it is just crap.

 

[Specialeyes]

I always thought 'clogging the tines' was a Lindisfarne song!

But you're not going mad - right tool for the job and buy cheap, buy twice. 👍

 

[classic33]

After struggling to use cheap and cheerful hollow tine aerator forks, which just clog up on our clay soil, I have today "forked out" £139.99 (plus postage!!) on a Swardman.

https://www.gardenimports.co.uk/product/swardman-hollow-tine-fork-aerator/

Can't take it with you!

Did you buy a "set of 3, replaceable, stainless-steel solid tines for the Swardman Fork Aerator. Designed to last a lifetime." at the same time?

 

[Chislenko]

Did you buy a "set of 3, replaceable, stainless-steel solid tines for the Swardman Fork Aerator. Designed to last a lifetime." at the same time?

Funnily enough, no!

 

[Andy in Germany]

After struggling to use cheap and cheerful hollow tine aerator forks, which just clog up on our clay soil, I have today "forked out" £139.99 (plus postage!!) on a Swardman.

https://www.gardenimports.co.uk/product/swardman-hollow-tine-fork-aerator/

Can't take it with you!

Yowser, that's built to last... Let us know how it works.

Also, it's good to see other people using a low energy solution...

 

[Arrowfoot]

Had this but not this brand 20 years. Did not work after multiple attempts. Used a regular garden fork to dig in clean and tilt it up to break the soil just below the surface without breaking to the surface or lifting the lawn. Worked a treat.

 

[Chislenko]

Had this but not this brand 20 years. Did not work after multiple attempts. Used a regular garden fork to dig in clean and tilt it up to break the soil just below the surface without breaking to the surface or lifting the lawn. Worked a treat.

Did you have one with the cut outs in the tines to allow the cores an easy exit?

 

[Gillstay]

I have cut grass for many years and never seen the need to airate it. On an intensive golf course etc I can understand it but otherwise I see no gain.

 

[Buck]

Compacted soil definitely needs aerating and its good to do this after scarifying before seeding and top dressing

@Chislenko - let us know how you get on - I was going to hire a petrol one for half a day but a manual one comes with a free workout!

 

[annedonnelly]

Got to say looking at the first photo on the link I wondered why they'd photographed it lying on a green carpet! Had to look closely to see it was grass. Is that what my lawn is supposed to look like?

 

[PaulSB]

Got to say looking at the first photo on the link I wondered why they'd photographed it lying on a green carpet! Had to look closely to see it was grass. Is that what my lawn is supposed to look like?

No! It's what Swardman want you to believe your lawn will look like. Garden fork works well here. Horrible job though.