push aerators

[Clear-Cut]

i noticed they sell aerators that you can drag behind a tractor so i figured there wouldnt be much difference than if there was a push aerator. i kno the walk behinds are the best but i cant afford that right now

anyone know of any push aeraotrs? :weightlifter:

[Clear-Cut]

well i just found these (the first one looks better simply because you can put the extra weight on it)

1
http://www.outsidepride.com/store/catalog/Push-Spike-Aerator-p-16231.html

2
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000EYH1NG/dealtime-kitchen-20/ref=nosim

anyone have experience with these? it looks like it does the same thing as drag behind aerators..only thing that sux is that the 1st one ins only 16" in width..but if it does the job i think it will be worth the extra time and excercise for now...im only going to be around 10 jobs probably

[Jason Rose]

Wow, you best brace yourslef for a maylay of lawn wisdom here...

My 2 cents, neither of those 2 units there will do ANYTHING they say they will. The only way to really "areate" is to pull plugs. Spike aerators do nothing more than cause more compaction, the ones pictured won't because they likely wouldn't even penetrate the soil. Do a search on the net for Plugr, ryan, turfco, and there's more...

[Ric3077]

Don't use a spike aerator...it will not help, you need to core aerate to be effective, especially if you are selling aeration service, people will expect good results. If you can't afford a walk behind get a pull behind core aerator or a hooker from JRCO see it here: http://www.jrcoinc.com/product.asp?id=1 this is one that mounts in front of your mower...so it is getting pushed, just not by hand.

[Clear-Cut]

what about something like this? im sure i can turn this into a push aerator if i just bolt on an old lawnmower handle..it says it uses the plug method instead of just putting small slits into the ground

EDIT: sorry here is the link
http://www.outsidepride.com/store/catalog/Plug-Aerator-p-17687.html

[Jason Rose]

Don't see a pic, but if you can PUSH an areator that pulls plugs out of the ground I really don't want to run into you in a dark alley if you know what I mean. If it dosn't have a MOTOR and dosn't propell itself it's never going to do the job efficiently.

[Ric3077]

Exactly...there is no way you will be able to push it without a motor...heck even with a motor they suck. Here is an option for you...book your aerations on the same day, and RENT an aerator...I can get one for $12 and hour or $40 a day...plus you don't have to worry about maintenance...that is the way to go, don't mickey mouse around with that crap you are looking at

[Clear-Cut]

Exactly...there is no way you will be able to push it without a motor...heck even with a motor they suck. Here is an option for you...book your aerations on the same day, and RENT an aerator...I can get one for $12 and hour or $40 a day...plus you don't have to worry about maintenance...that is the way to go, don't mickey mouse around with that crap you are looking at

didnt even think of that...now where can i rent them...i think i remember reading on here taht someone rented a ryan from home depot..anyone know if this is true?

[BQLC]

Don't see a pic, but if you can PUSH an areator that pulls plugs out of the ground I really don't want to run into you in a dark alley if you know what I mean. If it dosn't have a MOTOR and dosn't propell itself it's never going to do the job efficiently.
My thoughts exactly i could not imagine pushing on with the weight it takes to work

[Eakern & Dog]

didnt even think of that...now where can i rent them...i think i remember reading on here taht someone rented a ryan from home depot..anyone know if this is true?


http://http://www.sunbeltrentals.com/locations/locations.asp?state=NJ

I rented one from Sunbelt and it worked good.

[Clear-Cut]

thats a good site but if i could get one from home depot i would be better off because its closer and i would most likely be doing this on a saturday...and the sunbelt locations closest to me are only open m-f

[Clear-Cut]

nice i just found out that the closest home depot rents them out

thanks for all of the help guys..maybe ill use the money i make to buy one of my own depending on how many jobs i get for it

[BQLC]

nice i just found out that the closest home depot rents them out

thanks for all of the help guys..maybe ill use the money i make to buy one of my own depending on how many jobs i get for it I don't think our home cheapo rent those wish they did

[Ric3077]

Only some home depots rent equipment...however some national rental chains include Sunbelt, United Rental, RSC, and there is usually a few independant ones in most areas too...go to www.yellowpages.com type in rental equipment and your zip code and BAM!

Also by me Sunbelt only does DAILY rentals so they are no good for like 2 jobs you will loose money...I suggest finding a few places...some have aerators cheap, some have other equipment you need cheaper...get to know them all...

[warren piece]

Also before I purchased I would try to rent the ones made by the various manufacture's. That way you can see which one you like best. With Plugr, Bluebird, Ryan, Turfco, Billygoat etc. One man's hunk of junk is anothers favorite tool.

[mow2nd]

lmao............................hahahahahaha........................this site is sooooooooooooooo funny

[WALKER LANDSCAPE]

Try to find and actual equipment rental place check yellow pages. Most of
those places will rent it to you on Sat and you can keep it till Mon for a
one day rental. We rent alot of our equipment that way.

[Clear-Cut]

thanks..ill keep that in mind

[Runner]

LOL!... Ok,...Here's what you do. I'll give you this advice, but you have to PROMISE never to share it with anyone else...It's an ancient trade secret that has been passed on only through our family tribes and generations.:laugh:
First, you go out and you sell, sell, sell. Line as many aerations up as you possibly can, and schedule all of them for the day (or two). THEN, you go out and rent your aerator, and have at it. Your first job will pay for the day's rental, and you are good to go for the rest of the day. Saturday is ALWAYS a good day to do these...Why? Because this is the day that Mr. Jones, who lives across the street, is home. When you unload and start doing Mr. Smith's lawn, you will see Mr. Jone's garage door go up, and though he may not be obvious, you WILL be watched. This is a great time to upsell, because this is something that many people have for a long time wondered about, intended on doing, or more so, would just like to have done - especially at the convenience of not wanting or having to go out and rent a unit themselves.
There, now you have it....Now, make sure you don't tell anyone this secret, because NO one should have access to such privileged information. :nono: :D

[Clear-Cut]

lol...thanks for the sarcastic advice..it really did put a smile on my face lol

[GravelyGuy]

Runner knows exactly how it works. I line up all of my aeration jobs for Sat. and I rent the machine from a local lumber yard that rents out equipment. It's like $42 a day.

I went out one Sat. with only 3 jobs and ended up with like 8 from the neighbors.

[Clear-Cut]

sounds good to me! about how much do you guys charge per 1000 sq. ft.

[Ric3077]

I charged $15 per 1000 in 2006 with a 5,000 sq ft min. In 2007 it will be a bit higher.

[Clear-Cut]

so are you saying that u charged a base rate of $75 up to 5,000 sq.ft. and then $15 per 1000 sq.ft. if it was more than 5,000?

or are you simply saying u dont aerate properties that are less than 5000 sq. ft.

[Ric3077]

I would do jobs under 5,000 sq ft but it was $75. 5,000 sq ft lawns were $75 too. And yes if more than 5,000 sq ft it is $15 per 1,000 so a 10,000 sq ft lawn is $150. If I get someone with a huge lot of say 40,000 sq ft I would discount it to $12/1000sqft.

[Clear-Cut]

good to know thanks

[americanlawn]

Unless you're considering a Ryan pull-behind CORE aerator with hydraulic lift (weighs over 500 pounds), forget it, cuz all the others are junk. We have two Ryan pull-behinds, but you need at least 20 horsepower to pull 'em.

If you don't want to spend $5000 for a used John Deere to pull it, consider a Turfco TurnAer 26. It is available with a sulky, so you can stand while you work. We have one. It RULES! Turfco reps are top notch (I know).

If you buy one of theirs, and you don't like it.....you will get big money on ebay. That has to tell us something.

Hope this helps, Larry.

[Runner]

I'm sorry, but I have to disagree. While Ryan does make a great product (for many of their products), there are others out there that do well. The tow behind Classen is an EXCELLENT aerator, and it can be pulled with a small tractor or a Z. Millcreek is another who makes a great unit. Myself, I have a Turf-vent that I have had for several years, and it has been an excellent unit. I paid round $500 for it when I purchased t, and thogh it isn't constructed quite like the Ryan or the Classen, it is built well and has held up to many many hours of use and other than some wear on the spoons, it shows absolutely no signs of wear.

[dcgreenspro]

good to know thanks
bud, what exactly are you trying to get out of aerifying in December? Unless you have some newly aquired clients whose yards are compacted completely, you really should wait till the spring.jmo the ground will not heal and will set back the lawn with out proper fert not to mention the root shearing from the ground freezing and thawing.jmo Line em up in the spring a couple of weeks after you put down a late app.

[Clear-Cut]

i never said i was doing it now...im just trying to plan for the spring

[dcgreenspro]

sorry, i was under the impression you were trying to do it now. it is going to be hit or miss in the spring, might try dormant seeding later when it gets really cold. save the renovation for the fall when you can get the most out of it.