lawn aerator and scarifer help.... please

[seneca]

Need to improve the state of my lawn and didn't fancy the idea of having to rake over the whole thing and then punch thousands of holes in it (it's a fairly large lawn.) So, I'm thinking of going electric and getting a machine that can do it. Are machines any good at doing this stuff? Or do I need to slave away with hand tools to get a desirable result? There are a few machines out there with prices ranging from £100 - £150. Has anyone tried any of these and are they any good? Not the kind of thing you can get reviews for, so I was hoping someone had tried one and could let me know. I don't want to invest in one only for it to be completely useless.

The one that I currently like the look of is AL-KO Comfort 32 VLE Combi Care
http://www.garden-machines.com/acatalog/AL_KO_Comfort_32_VLE_Combi_Care.html

though this one has a slightly more powerful motor - Draper 1300W

any opinions?
thanks.

 

[blu3tang]

i have a small garden (100m2 and front garden about the same), i have the Qualcast Lawnraker 32 (which is on that site you sent)

its ok does the job,if any gripe about it, the grass/moss collection basket yoke is a bit flimsy and could be better designed.

Still i use it after every time i cut the grass (to do the english lawn design pattern on it).

 

[seneca]

does it actually remove the moss and thatch? how much is left once you've been over a patch of lawn? Presumably it looks a bit different once it has had the lawnraker over it. How much is collected in the box, as that would be a good sign of whether it was removing moss and thatch or if it was just picking up grass clippings after mowing.

Also, has using it done your lawn any good? Does it appear healthier looking with less weeds (what they always say on the box.)

 

[sandwell]

I think it is best to kill the moss first, otherwise the lawn raker will tend to spread it.

Personally, I find that hand tools are the best. I use a lawn aerator which is simply rolled over the lawn, about £25 to buy now, I think.

I also use a pull/push rake, which I find is quite effective, and not hard work.

Also after using a cylinder mower for many years, I am now using a rotary mower, and there is a distinct improvement in the appearance of the lawn.

 

[seneca]

is your aerator one of those spring loaded roller types? I have seen them on the net, but wasn't sure whether they worked. Do the spikes actually go into the ground or merely prick the surface?

also, what is a pull/push rake? Is it anything like a normal lawn rack or is it something altogether different?

thanks.

 

[blu3tang]

does it actually remove the moss and thatch?

Yes! , i use kill the moss first, when it turns black, use the lawnraker. the first time i did it on the front garden (100m2) i got at least 20 black bin bags of the stuff. The 2nd year i did it i got about 6 bags of moss.

You could possibly get more, but i went up and down /left to right and then diagonally the first year, the 2nd year i just went up and down & left to right

The lawn did look a bit bear, but i really noticed quickly the grass taking over, and with some fertilizer a few weeks later, the garden was very green looking.

Again i use it after everytime i cut the grass, even though the lawn mower picks up the grass, it doesnt pick up everything, so a quick scoot on the lawnraker picks up the extra bits of grass and also some moss

Also, has using it done your lawn any good? Does it appear healthier looking with less weeds (what they always say on the box.)

I think so, but what i have yet to do (and really should do it) is punch holes in the grass for drainage, come autumn/winter the grass can get water logged with water sitting there. Perhaps with better drainage, less moss the grass would be in even better condition.

 

[sandwell]

My aerator is one of those spring loaded roller types. It does do the job quite quickly. Digging hotes with a lawn aerator is a laborious and tedious job. Another way which is quite simple and effective is driving your spade in a few inches, then dribble a handful of sharp sand down the back of the blade, before withdrawing.

Pull Push Rake has a head that swivels, so that you push it forward and pull it back, no need to lift off the ground, and quite easy to do. There is one advertised here
http://www.garden4less.co.uk/search.asp?pg=1&stext=rake&scat=31

 

[terryhurlock]

The AL-KO was given best buy status by Which magazine if that's of any help

 

[sandwell]

seneca

Maintaining a nice green weed and moss free lawn is hard work. A few years ago, the President of the English Greenkeepers Association called at my house. He said to me that if I followed all the published advice, re moss killing, weed killing, mowing regularly etc, after 20 years, the grass verge outside the house would probably look better than my lawn. I think he was right.