Lewis Lifetime Tools Spike Aerator M-7C

I purchased this manual lawn aerator a couple of weeks ago after deciding (based on Amazon customer reviews) it would probably be the best choice for use in the clay soil my lawn grows in. When my soil is dry it is like concrete and when it's wet it is gooey and sticky. I waited for some rain to thoroughly moisten the soil into the root zone; knowing that there was no way I could effectively use the aerator when the soil was dry and hard. It is key to have the soil moist through the lawn's root zone, especially in clay soil. So far I have completed aerating the backyard portion of my lawn. Being a "dot-the-eyes-and-cross-the-tees" kind of guy, I tracked how much time it took me to do the backyard lawn, which was a total of 4 hours 25 minutes. Based on the square footage of my backyard, my production rate with the aerator was an average of approximately 325 square feet per hour (slower in the compacted areas, faster in the not-compacted areas). Even though I have clay soil, this tool worked very well to punch holes in the soil profile of my lawn. In those areas where the soil was most compacted it did require more serious downward pressure and effort with my foot (and some side-to-side wiggling) to get the 3-inch spikes all the way down into the soil. In the less compacted (or not compacted at all) areas the spikes went in to their full length with a minimum of downward foot pressure. I worked the entire backyard in parallel straight rows/columns, punching the row of 4 spikes at the recommended 6" to 8" apart (locating my parallel rows/columns about 3" to 4" apart). I found that is was easier to see where you'd punched your holes if the lawn was recently mowed. So far I have had no problems at all with this aerator after 4 hours 25 minutes of use. It is strongly constructed of steel with very sturdy, stout welds. The only thing I would change is to have it built maybe 3 or 4 inches longer (the total length of the tool is 36 inches). I am 6 feet tall and have to bend over a bit when using it, which causes me some back soreness after prolonged use (I'm 66 years old and my back isn't in tip-top shape any more). Using the aerator is a bit of a workout and can cause you to break into a sweat if it's warm outside. I'm very happy with this tool and will use it on my entire lawn, after which I will fertilize. Will its use improve the condition of my lawn? I think it will, but time will tell.

I considered aerator shoes but I’m glad I got this tool instead of using the shoes. From what I’ve read, the shoes seem like a good idea until you sprain an ankle. I was worried this aerator wouldn’t make large enough or long-lasting holes but it did. It definitely takes a while to cover the ground evenly but it was easy to use after a rain (or if you soak the ground first with a hose, which is step 1 of the instructions). It’s actually sort of meditative once you get in a rythmn.

I just received this item a couple of days ago and used it for the first time this morning. It appears to be well-made, and I've found it easy to use. My soil is very compacted and required that I use it "a step at a time" sometimes alternating each foot. Where the soil was softer I was able to insert the tines in multiple areas before taking a step forward, which made me able to cover more area. It is a slow process so I am doing small sections at a time. A larger, mechanical aerator would be nicer and quicker, but for this money this little Yard Butler suits my needs. I realize that getting my lawn back up to standard is a work in progress and will take time. I will update review after I've watered and treated the lawn, but for now I consider this a useful tool. Best to use after a light rain.

Build is solid. It is also from a company from the US. Hopefully it will last until next year's lawn seeding.

Dead spots on grass from dogs, this allows you to target small areas for reseeding, makes a huge difference.