Do Spike Lawn Aerators Do Anything?

You need to spike your lawn if it is hard under foot. You may have a small lawn which you can spike with a garden fork. I have spiked football pitches with a wide motorized machine. Smaller areas with a hollow Tyne spiker, brushing fertilised soil into the holes. All have proved beneficial to the grassed areas.

Thanks very much Doctorbob1 for the good advice. My lawn is a bit to big to fork so should I get a hollow or solid Spiking tool and is the length of spike important?

The best for you would be a hollow Tyne. They are about 4inches long. It leaves small sausage like pieces of earth which can be brushed up and put in the back of the shrubbery. You then top dress with top soil mixed with Blood, Fish and Bone 1 kilo
to a wheelbarrow of soil. Cheaper than buying John Innes No. 3 in bags.

I have trouble getting the soil out of my hollow tines. what is the secret of getting it to work?

I agree with Seaburngirl. I bought a hollow tine tool and found it very hard to use.

The ends of your Tines become blunt, also if the lawn is dry the small pieces of turf will not push through. You can grease the insides of the tines with lard.

I think I'll give it a miss. whilst we still have pet rabbits and children I dont mind as long as it looks green.

Thanks to all, but now confused on weather I should bother to spike my lawn or not! Will it make any difference to my lawn anyway?