Aerator: You Definitely Want to Borrow This
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A core aerator is the most borrowable tool in existence. You use it once a year for 1-2 hours. Buying one makes zero financial sense for a residential lawn.
The Numbers
Why Borrow
- You aerate once per year, in early fall. One use. Every year.
- Powered aerators cost $2,500+ and are the size of a mower
- Even a manual aerator ($200) pays for 3 rental days, and you only need one per year
- Your neighbor with the nice lawn probably owns one and uses it the same week you would
- This is exactly the kind of tool FriendsWithTools was built for
Why Buy
- You maintain multiple properties and aerate more than 5 lawns per season
- You run a lawn care business
- No other reason. Seriously. Borrow this one.
Check Before You Buy
Someone in your neighborhood probably owns a aerator and uses it a few times a year. Borrowing saves money, saves garage space, and keeps tools in use instead of collecting dust.
See How FriendsWithTools WorksCommon Questions
When should I aerate my lawn?
Cool-season grasses (fescue, bluegrass, rye): early fall (September). Warm-season grasses (bermuda, zoysia, St. Augustine): late spring (May-June). Aerate when the grass is actively growing so it recovers quickly.
Core aerator vs spike aerator?
Core aerators pull plugs of soil out, which actually decompacts the soil. Spike aerators poke holes that compress the surrounding soil, making compaction worse in the long run. Always use a core aerator. Spike aerators are basically useless.