The Tool That Promises To Turn Your Lawn Mower Into An Aerator

Most people aspire to have a lush green lawn. Of course, that requires performing a number of tasks on a regular basis, including mowing, edging, watering, fertilizing, and aerating. Mowing and aerating, in particular, are two routine lawn maintenance chores that take quite a bit of time, though aerating is often done only once a year. To that end, many homeowners have undoubtedly daydreamed of combining the two tasks. Believe it or not, that may be possible with the Green Scott Aerator Wheel, a tool that promises to turn your lawn mower into an aerator.

Although there are a number of tow-behind aerator attachments and implements for riding mowers, the Green Scott Aerator Wheel is specifically designed for push and self-propelled/walk-behind mowers. As the name implies, it is a wheel, albeit one fitted with spikes or hollow tines. The idea is that when it's the best time to aerate your lawn, just replace one of your lawn mower wheels with this tool. With the Aerator Wheel in place, moving the machine across your lawn both mows and breaks through sod at the same time. That means there's no need for a lawn aerator anymore, nor the need to spend extra time and energy punching holes in your lawn after mowing. It also has advantages over manual push aerators, being compact and requiring less storage space. Where push aerators can run hundreds of dollars, the various Aerator Wheels available start between about $25 and $50.

Green Scott sells three different versions of its aeration wheel. A spike aeration wheel is designed to break up hardened soil, and is perfect when it is time to overseed your lawn. A pin aerator wheel pokes holes in the soil, similar to the effect of spiked aeration shoes. It can be used for frequent aeration and is the best choice for lightweight mowers, including both electric and battery-powered models. A core aerator wheel removes plugs of soil. To ensure you get the right product, determine the best type of aerator for your lawn and know the diameter of your mower's front wheel.

Regardless of which wheel you choose, installation is the same: Remove the mower's front left wheel and replace it with a Green Scott Aeration Wheel. Some self-propelled mowers have a gear situated behind the wheel which should also be removed so it doesn't shake loose during operation. Then, simply mow your lawn like you typically would. Keeping a healthy pace makes for a smoother "ride." When finished, replace the Green Scott Aeration Wheel with the original mower wheel.

Overall, reviewers on Reddit and elsewhere indicate the product does work. However, a number of people have noted that it struggles to deeply penetrate hardened soil, dense Bermuda grass, and certain compact clay soils. Watering your lawn first is one possible solution. A YouTube reviewer noted that the wheel can fall off if not properly tightened or, conversely, not move if over-tightened. So, a bit of experimentation may be needed on the install. As is the case with any lawn and garden tool, the aeration wheel should be thoroughly cleaned after each use to prevent rust, reduce the chance of spreading disease, and maintain proper performance.