Aeration of your lawn is a procedure that keeps your lawn green and healthy. The cost of aerating the lawn may differ.
Lawn Aeration is essential when the soil blocks oxygen and water from getting into the soil’s lower layers of your lawn.
And this causes grass not to receive the nutrients it requires for a healthy lawn.
If you reside in an area with clay soils, then the likelihood of having excessive compaction is higher due to the strong clay bonds under your lawn.
Learn here about the typical costs to aerate your lawn to make the most informed decision when choosing the best method for aeration.
What Does a Lawn Aerator Cost to Rent?
It will cost you around $60 for four hours of rent or $90 for a whole day.
Prices can vary as per location and model number, and the above price is from Home Depot.
Renting a Lawn Aerator – Cost and other Factors to consider:
Costing –
Prices will differ based on the model and location.
- Generally, you can expect a high-quality gas-powered aerator for rent for about 65 dollars for a half-day or $100.
- Electric and pull-behind models are likely to cost less, but there will be greater variance from the store location.
- One can estimate $35 to $65 for half-day or between $65 and $100 for every day.
- The cost of aerating your lawn with an expert lawn-care company ranges from $15 to $17 per square foot.
- The typical size of a lawn is approximately 10000 square feet, which means that the cost for aeration is approximately $150.
- It takes a lawn-care company around thirty minutes to aerate an aerated ten thousand square feet lawn.
- In addition, adding fertilizing and overseeding to your aeration can push the price.
- The cost for overseeding, aeration, and fertilization is about $250-$300 if you work with a lawn care firm.
PS – Be sure to look for alternatives at the rental center since they usually have multiple models.
Test out different models in terms of sizes, features, and horsepower, and soon you’ll find the perfect model for your lawn.
Popular types of aerators for renting/ purchasing:
Given below are some most famous aerators that will easily fulfill your renting needs.
Make sure you look for a plug-aerator that pulls a tiny soil cylinder from the ground.
- Spike Aerators do not remove the plug.
- They let nutrients and water enter holes; spike aerators do not leave the soil around the hole, making it more compact than when you first started.
There are three kinds of aerators to be considered when renting.
Pull-behind –
- It is less costly and cheaper to lease than a powered aerator. And this is a good option when you already have a lawnmower.
- The pull-behind models attach to the rear end of the riding mower and can be pulled about while cutting your lawn or taking an aeration trip.
- It’s great for large lawns, which would be a nightmare to trim manually.
- Choose a lawn that has at minimum two height settings, one for aeration and the other for transport, to avoid leaving footprints whenever you cross the sidewalk or driveway.
Gas Powered –
- They might look like a pushing mower or snow blower; however, they’re much more difficult to manage.
- Since they’re penetrating the ground with considerable force, they’ll buck and kick when they strike stones and thick soil areas.
- They’re loud, heavy, and are difficult to transport, and are the ideal choice for those who don’t have the luxury of a riding lawnmower.
Electric –
- Electric aerators operate on the power cable or battery.
- With gas-powered machines, they do not have the weight needed to be coring effectively.
- And This is why they typically spike aerators designed for light-duty work.
- It’s much simpler to transport and operate an electric aerator as they’re usually less expensive to lease than a gas aerator.
Buying an Aerator Vs. Renting it & Cost differences in DIY and hiring a pro for lawn aeration:
Aerators with motors can cost upwards of $4000.
- Many non-motorized aerators, on the other hand, can be hauled behind a riding lawnmower or tractor.
- The price of a pull-behind aerator varies from $100 to $500, depending on the size and brand.
- You’ll need a location to store the aerator throughout the year until it’s needed.
- There are manual hand aerators, as well as aerators that attach to your shoes, in addition to pull-behinds.
- However, we would be cautious about getting such unless you have a very little lawn, such as a tenth of an acre or less.
Renting can be a better option for DIY projects or a low-space aeration manual.
DIY Vs. Pro –
The figures that we came up with can cost you about $90 for aerating your lawn or $240 to treat and aerate the lawn on your own (if there is the right equipment for transporting your rental).
- If you buy an aerator by yourself, the initial price will be expensive, but you’ll only be paying for the expense of seed and fertilizer to use for future treatments.
- The typical cost to aerate your lawn with a lawn care company is $150 or $250-300 if you add the overseeding and fertilizing.
PS – Remember, if you do not have experience treating your lawn, this could take you all day to complete.
Some other questions,
Related Questions and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):
Q1.) How much is the cost for getting your lawn aerated?
Answer: The first parameter is the lawn size that runs on $0.05 for each sq. foot and multiplies your lawn area with the company’s pricing to get an estimate.
Q2.) Should one aerate the lawn?
Answer: Yes, and this will benefit all kinds of lawns. But there is a catch. Not every lawn requires it, so only aerate those who suffer from some heavy foot traffic.
Q3.) Can we aerate our lawn via DIY at a low cost?
Answer: It is completely okay to do the lawn aeration process yourself and as per your schedule rather than long waiting for a pro.
Make sure the lawn is best and run the machine a couple of times.
Q4.) How much does it cost to aerate a small lawn?
Answer: $75 to $150 or even more, depending on the size of the lawn and its requirements.
The package includes aeration, overseeding, and even fertilization.
Q5.) What is the best and cost-effective time of year for aeration of your lawn?
Answer: An early spring is just the right season, especially in areas where the grass is growing fastest.
PS – Kindly aerate the soil annually if it is a high-traffic area.
Q6.) Is TruGreen a good lawn care company?
Answer: Yes, as per this old house review, one can easily give them a 97 out of 100 for being the best lawn care company.
Q7.) Which is better, Tru green or Spring green?
Answer: Spring Green covers less in their plans, but they provide customized plans that can fit anyone’s needs.
Q8.) What are some recommendations for fertilizers after the aeration process?
Answer: When we aerate the lawn, it becomes ripe, and the holes there provide a strong grip for seeds, and the fertilizer can reach their roots.
Milorganite is a great fertilizer.
Q9.) How much time after aeration should we do seed?
Answer: Forty-eight hours is a good waiting time, after which you can do the aeration steps, seeding, and fertilizing as well.
This way, you will have the best chance to get each of them to the roots.
Q10.) How can one aerate their lawns without a machine?
Answer: Firstly, push a hand Airifier, then rake the lawn to see if it looks heavily thatched.
Q11.) Which is a better option, tilling or aerating?
Answer: One should know when aeration is critical and when tilling requirements are there before tearing up the yard.
PS – Till if you see lots of weeds/ want to start fresh.
Q12.) Is it possible to aerate the frozen ground?
Answer: We know that aerators are nothing but very heavy machines, but the cold ground is not suitable for your aeration goals.
So, it’s always better to wait for some more time.
Q13.) Should you be watering the lawn after aeration?
Answer: One should not water the same day as this will not give your lawn enough time to absorb the water. The major goal should be keeping it moist without any oversaturation.
Q14.) What should be the first thing, fertilized or overseed?
Answer: One should avoid fertilizing for at least a month before the overseeding process.
Q15.) Does the aeration process help with the growth of grass?
Answer: We know that grasses need air, water, or nutrients to nurture, and the aeration process helps.
Q16.) Are manual lawn aerators worth it?
Answer: Yes, a manual lawn aerator like Yard Butler LA is the best choice for this purpose.
It is quite handy for small spaces.
Q17.) What should you look at when buying an aerator?
Answer: We must see how much aeration our lawn needs and the elbow grease it needs. Aeration will make your lawn greener.
Q18.) What is the cost of buying an aerator?
Answer: $25 to $30 For a manual handheld version and $200 for automated machines. So, choose accordingly.
Final Verdict:
Lawns having sandy soil are more likely to have soil compacted and require aeration.
Other indicators that you could require aeration of your lawn are the growth of weeds or water pooling and spots of bare soil.
You can choose to do it yourself (doing this yourself) or opt for the professional lawn-care method by hiring a lawn care firm.
Once you have assessed the state that your grass is in, determine which method is best for you.
Costs vary, but these are the most common expenses to get your lawn aerated.
Once you have reviewed the costs, you’ll be able to determine which method best suits your lawn and your budget!
Thanks For Reading!
