golf shoes while mowing

[AndrewLawn]

Does anyone ever where golf shoes(with the spikes) while mowing in order to aerate the lawn(when you're mowing with a walkbehind of course,not a rider,that wouldn't do to much good,lol).Anyway,just wondering if that might work.

[Just Turned Pro]

Im not sure about 1/2 inch aeration... but I used to wear them at a house I did for traction. The yard had a slope on the north side that was always damp and slippery. I was always afraid of falling.

[Leonard]

Hmmm, like the other guy I don't know about the 1/2 inch golf spikes doing much good. I've always gone at least 4-6" deep to achieve results when aerating. Other than traction I don't see much advantage.

I have seen some strap-on attachments for your feet. They've got 3 1/2" spikes. These, I think, are better left for Joe Homeowner rather than you or me, though. I wouldn't be caught dead behind a WB with them on.

[AndrewLawn]

seems to me if you were wearing 3 and 1/2 inch spikes while mowing with a walkbehind,you might actually be found dead!how would you get your feet out of the ground quick enough???

[Leonard]

...My point exactly.

[joshua]

nothing wrong what you guys are says but doesn't jerry baker say to do that???? and wouldn't you want to actually charge your customers to aerate??? sounds like you'll make more money if you charge in the spring and fall. and its kinda illegal to wear gold shoes well driving.

[AndrewLawn]

illegal to wear golf shoes while driving???never knew that,ya learn something everyday......and yes,you're right,I would charge for aerating,but not for using that method!

[Leonard]

Originally posted by joshua
its kinda illegal to wear gold shoes well driving.

Yeah, I've also heard it's illegal to go barefoot.

You <i>could</i> wear the golf shoes if all you wanted to do was maintain a porous soil. But if the soil is heavily compacted you will need something deeper than golf spikes. And yes, charge 'em for it. There's no such thing as a free lunch........or aeration job.

[KirbysLawn]

Well, I tried it twice this week...:angry:

Each time I put the shoes on, got in the truck, and drove the wrong way!! Ended up playing 18 holes twice and not much work, wife was not happy. http://www.themelee.com/smilies/s/otn/angry/pain10.gif

[HOMER]

Must be nice. You must be one of them rich lawn dudes!:D

[Currier]

Those spikes should do a great job of compacting the soil so you could sell real aeration (plugs) in the fall!

[KD'sLawns]

Kirby, did the same thing about 2 weeks ago. Worked for about three hours, then went golfing. My wife wasn't the happiest either but I have a big tournament in a couple of weeks and I have only played four times all year. The bad thing about it is that after I finished, felt guilty the rest of the day.

[scottb]

I read where a guy actually wears his golf shoes as he mows every week it was in the Usa magazine in Sundays paper in a article on lawncare.

[Scraper]

I've heard the same thing Currier said in that they actually compact the soil as opposed to aerate it. Yes, it may push holes in the soil, but what is being removed? It is actually pressing the soil out as opposed to a core aeration where the core is removed and allowing it to breakdown back into the hole thus reducing compaction.

[AndrewLawn]

thanks for all of the replies guys!currier and scraper had good points.

[Eric ELM]

One of the times I was out getting my JD deck gear box fixed years ago I went in the back to see how close it was to being done. The mechanic said, check this out. This guy leaves his tire chains on all year long and says he does this to Aerate the lawn as he mows it. :D

The next time he showed me a deck that the customer said didn't cut good at all and not like it did when it was new. The deck had so much of a build up on it, the tops of the blades were rubbing the build up. There was no place for clippings to fly around. I could not see how this deck could cut anything. The blades were as round as a round pencil, so I can just imagine how this customer's lawn looked.