Handy Hollow Tine Aerator

I've been looking at this type of product for a while and this one certailnly does the job. Once you get into a rhythm you can do about 20 sqare metres in an hour or so. Be prepared for some hard graft and a bit of additional jumping up and down in properly stout footwear.
I like the way it removes a proper core of up to 5cm and pops out on the strong springs collecting the cores as you go along. However on hard ground you really need to slam it into the ground and then jump on it to have the desired...

Medium soil but fairly dry + 12 stone operator. No chance with 5 tines but fine with 3. Needs both feet and a bit of a jump on the most compacted areas (under the washing line so trodden down a lot) but 1 foot ok in other areas. Tines block immediately so rarely get any soil coming through. Springs do make it much easier to pull out of the ground than if using a garden fork.

Strongly built and good value it works well on my lawn which is very compacted in areas that are walked on during the winter months. However the soil here is sandy and well drained, and I am overweight: it takes my weight to make the tines penetrate. If you are lighter you can reduce the number of tines from the full complement of five. I could work it quite quickly and the soil extruded up into the trough. ( I put the soil with my lawn edge trimmings up a far corner of the garden to rot down and...