A lawn is that beautiful part of your house where you spend your leisure time and/or any kind of celebration or party time, or just relax on your favorite lawn chair. The more verdurous it is, the more pleasant it will look. So frequent aerating is important to make your lawn healthier. But with a manual one, it is quite hard to aerate as it’s going to hurt your back. So a machine aerator like pull-behind plug aerator can do the aerating job with no manual effort from your side.
The best pull behind plug aerator pulls out the lawn soil to remove the soil compaction. When the soil gets compacted and the grass turns out dry then you need to aerate it. Aeration helps to pass on the nutrient and water deep inside the soil. So it becomes more fertile and makes your lawn greener. As it’s a machine so you need to give minimum effort while aerating. Just sit on the tractor which is attached to the aerator and drive it through the lawn.
What is Aerating?
Aerating is a process in which you pull out a certain portion of soil from the lawn, so as to get the proper amount of air, water, and nutrients to maintain the soil as well as your lawn health. There are several processes of aerating.
The first one is the spike aerating. In this process, the spike makes holes on the ground to remove the compaction of the soil. It is useful for a short time. The spike aeration is done in mainly three ways, that is with a hand tool, with a shoe, which has spikes beneath the shoe, and a machine aerator.
The second one is the core aerating. In this process, a machine is used to get rid of the compaction by removing plugs from the soil. In this way, the soil gets more fertilized. Aerating is an important part to flow air, water into the soil to improve its health.
Best Pull Behind Plug Aerator Reviews (With Pros, Cons & Verdict)
If you’re still here, I am assuming that you wanna know more about our best pull behind plug aerator list. Well lemme tell you that we have invested more than 50 hours to test 25+ products from various brands to come up with this list. We have given special importance to factors like durability, ease of use, customer support, value for money etc to shortlist the products for this article. Now, let’s start!
Product #1: Brinly PA-40BH Tow Behind Plug Aerator, 40-Inch
- Here 16 gauges steel plugging spoons are used.
- The fully enclosed weight tray can carry up to 150 lbs weight.
- It has a single transport lever to attach it with transport mode.
- This aerator is used with 10” never-flat rubber tread tires.
- A universal hitch pin is used to attach it with every tractor.
- It has three independently rotating tine sections to minimize the turf damage during turns.
Review
It Does Its Job Quite Good: Initially, it is tough to get it assembled properly but the well-described manual helps a lot. Once it is fully assembled, you can use it comfortably by attaching a tractor. It can poke holes of around 3 acres of land without breaking its spoons. So you can be satisfied with this aerator.
A Nice Tow Behind Aerator: If you have a lawn in your home and are looking for an aerator then this tow-behind aerator is well suited to you. The build quality is quite good and durable. If you don’t have a concrete block then you can place a plastic tote filled with water, as it fits the tray properly.
PROS
👍 It pulls 3” soil cores to penetrate the water and air easily into the soil.
👍 It can work on any kind of soil.
👍 The overall body is durable and made using heavy-duty materials.
👍 It has 23 heavy-duty plug spoons.
CONS
👎 The size of this aerator is bulky, so it is difficult to arrange the storage place.
👎 The grass can be damaged due to the heavyweight.
Our Verdict
“This well-designed aerator is made of good quality material to make sure your aeration is perfectly done. You can be assembled with everyday hand tools. It can aerate all types of soil. So you can purchase it without worrying about your soil type.”
Product #2: Agri-Fab 45-0299 48-Inch Tow Plug Aerator
- It has 32 galvanized plug aerator knives.
- It includes 9 3/4”x 2 3/4” flat-free tires.
- Its universal hitch helps it to get attached to lawn tractors irrespective of brands.
- It has flat-free tires to give one less thing to worry about.
- 3 welded knife sections are capable of self-rotating and that helps to cover the maximum surface area.
- Transport handle can be reached from the seat of the tractor, and it allows easy handling of plug aerators.
Review
Well Built: It has a very sturdy built to take care of your lawn. It will not easily break down. Even for bumpy lawns, it works wonders. It doesn’t get damaged easily on the hard surface. You won’t regret having it.
Works Great: With easy to do the assembling and proper usage guide, it performs at par with our expectation, even exceeding sometimes. Just we need to be cautious while turning near the driveway or patio as it is 48 inches wide.
PROS
👍 Assembling is very easy with the user manual guide.
👍 It is on the cheaper side in terms of budget.
👍 It has 3 years of limited warranty.
👍 Its weight tray can hold up to 140 lbs of soil.
👍 Galvanized knives are rustproof and super durable.
CONS
👎 During assemble; there are few instances where people have cut themselves because of sharp edges/points of knives. So it will be really helpful from the manufacturer’s end if they provide some safety caps/covers on those sharps edges.
👎Some of the time parts are missing in the packing, although it is easily available in the market, still, any day we would like to have all the parts with the actual package.
Our Verdict
“It’s an absolute sturdy product with a price range on the cheaper side. This best pull behind plug aerator can give excellent performance even on bumpy grounds. Just be careful while assembling from the sharp edges and while using at the corners and this can very well serve your purpose.”
Product #3: Craftsman CMXGZBF7124213 40 Tow Plug Aerator
- It has 24 galvanized knives to penetrate the soil easily.
- It has flat-free tires.
- It is very durable with a heavy-gauge steel deck and properly welded drawbar.
- The transport handle of the cantilever is very helpful to raise it or lower it.
- It has an aeration path of 40 inches.
- Wide weight trey can support up to 140 lbs weight.
Review
Well made parts: The parts are made with heavy components that give a reliable feel and look. It will not leave you disappointed from a performance perspective. If the soil is wet, it will give you deepest penetration.
Excellent Product: Aerator functions well. You need to keep tray bolts loose and then push on end to better engage the lever. In steep areas, it’s better to drive downhill.
PROS
👍 It is easy to store against a wall.
👍 You can prepare your soil with this aerator for spring or fall planting time.
👍 The knives of the aerator are durable. It is suitable for long term usage.
👍 Due to the flat-free tires, you can move it all around comfortably.
CONS
👎 This product doesn’t have any inbuilt dethatcher.
👎 The assembly takes more time as the parts and nuts are not labeled properly.
Our Verdict
“The construction of this product is of high quality and also preferable for long term usage. You can store it easily in your storeroom and save your place as well. Overall it does its job very well.”
Product #4: Strongway Tow-Behind Plug Aerator
- This product is combined with 32 separate coring plug spikes.
- The plugging spikes can penetrate the compacted soil to a depth of 2 ½ inches.
- It has 10 inches of pneumatic tires.
- It has a pin-style hitch for easy and quick hitching.
- The weight tree can hold up to 140 lbs weight.
- Here you can attach an ATV, lawnmower, or any vehicles with 12 HP or more.
Review
Gingerly Engineered: You can assemble it with ease. Here lock nuts are used. So it’s not getting loose during vibrations. The build quality is quite sturdy and the chances of breaking down of the trey due to weight are less.
Worth of money: The coring plug spikes create holes on the ground. So the water can reach the roots of the grass and makes your lawn healthier. Due to its size, it works great on the golf field and does its job smoothly and effectively.
PROS
👍 It can cover large areas with its 48 inches width of the machine.
👍 You can aerate a wide variety of terrain and it gives a smooth riding experience.
👍 It has a powder coat finish for longevity.
👍 You can adjust the handle from the tractor seat.
CONS
👎 As the aerator is widespread, you can’t use it on a small lawn.
👎 It’s difficult to find its spare parts.
Our Verdict
“One can assemble it smartly with the help of the manual. It works brilliantly as described. One can be satisfied with it if one has a long lawn. It aerates it with less time and effort.”
Product #5: Agri-Fab 45-0544 40″ Spike Aerator
- This aerator has 10 galvanized spikes.
- The working width of this aerator is 40 inches.
- The tires attached to it are 7” flat free.
- The weight tray can bear up to 100 lbs weights.
- The cantilever support handles can be easily raised and lowered the knives.
- The universal hitch is used to fit it with any tractor.
Review
A Heavy Duty Product: This aerator is heavy duty on your lawn. It is quite surprising that it works quite well. You can fill the tray with the blocks to increase the effect of the soil plugging process.
Value For Money: Once you chaine it with your tractor, it quickly aerates your lawn around 3 acres. You can maintain the brass bushing with any kind of synthetic transmission fluid. You can use it twice a year on your lawn.
PROS
👍 With the foldable hitch, you can store it nicely in your store room.
👍 It comes with 3 years of warranty.
👍 The maintenance of this product is effortless.
👍 The spike of the aerator is pre-assembled. So it saves your time in assembling.
CONS
👎 The spike wheel spacers are made from plastic. It needs to be metalised.
👎 The spikes get loose after some usage.
Our Verdict
“As the spikes are already assembled, the remaining can assemble easily if you follow the instructions. The overall durability is high and you can easily move it around in your lawn. This product is truly value for money, and that’s why it deserves a place in this best pull behind plug aerator of 2022 list.”
Product #6: Precision Products PA42GY 42-Inch Plug Aerator
- The body of this product is steel made.
- It is 42 inches wide.
- The weight capacity is 150 lbs.
- The number of plugging spoons is 32.
- 10” pneumatic wheels are used here.
- The measurement of the steel trey is 11 gauge.
Review
Does An Excellent Job: It takes approximately two hours to aerate a half-acre ground. For properly moisturized soil, it gives decent plugs of around 2 inches and for relatively drier soil, the length is around 1 inch. The outcome is optimized when there is around 100lbs weight put on it.
Well Constructed: This product is better than a spike aerator. It does a good job by plowing the soil and letting the air come into this. If you oil it several times in a year then it can be rust free and you can use it for a long time.
PROS
👍 Due to the steel configuration, it is durable.
👍 It can penetrate up to 2 ½ inches deep in the soil.
👍 Here single-action lever is used to handle it with convenience.
👍 It can cover a wide area like a playground, sports field, etc with ease.
CONS
👎 The warranty periods for this product is only 90 days.
👎 It’s hard to find the replacement parts.
Our Verdict
“Most of the parts of this aerator are assembled. With the help of the manual, you can smoothly assemble the remaining parts. It does a beautiful job on moist soil and it can plug your large lawn swiftly. With the proper maintenance, you can use it in the long run.”
Product #7: Brinly PA-48BH Tow Behind Plug Aerator
- It is combined with 32 heat-treated steel core plugging spoons.
- The fully enclosed weight tray can bear up to 200 lbs weight.
- Here 10” never-flat rubber tires are used.
- The width of the aerator is 48 inches.
- It can uproot up to 3 inches clay from the ground.
Review
The Job Get Done On The Hard Clay: This product doesn’t disappoint you much. It works fine even on the hard clay and the spoons don’t break. It takes a little more time to assemble. You need to be more careful when you adjust the times.
Works As Advertised: After putting several weights, it pulls out 2 ½ inches to 3 inches soil. You can clean it up without much trouble. With the single-lever system, engaging and disengaging this with ATV is quite effortless.
PROS
👍 The four welded tin sections can move independently to minimize the turf damage.
👍 Due to a single transport lever, it can engage and disengage by just pulling.
👍 Durable materials are used here.
👍 You don’t need to put extra weight for a better result as the end is quite sharp.
CONS
👎 The overall product is bulky.
👎 It takes a bit longer to assemble.
Our Verdict
“This 48 inches aerator can cover up the lawn at a single go. You attach this with any kind of tractor to move it. With decent longevity and ease of handling, this product can very well be the machine needed for your lawn.”
Best Pull Behind Plug Aerator Buying Guide (Updated for 2022)
A good and expert aerator is the requirement of every lawn owner. But how to choose the best pull behind plug aerator 2022. It’s a big confusion among the buyers. So here we have listed some important aspects to choose the right one.
Lawn Size: In the case of an aerator, various kinds of sizes are available in the market. If your lawn size is large then a large-sized aerator will be okay for you. The size may be 40 or 48 inches. For small-sized law, you can use a small one.
Soil Type: Depending upon the soil type you can purchase the right pull behind the lawn aerator. If the soil is hard and compacted then you need a strong aerator. The strength can be determined by its capacity. You can also check the durability of the plug spoons for this purpose.
Build Quality: The more sturdy the product is the more fine result it gives. As it removes the hard clay from the lawn the spoons material is supposed to be of high quality. Most of the manufactured used high-quality material to build it. The pull-behind aerator also carried extra weight on three treys, so check whether the material is fine or not.
Aerator Size: Choosing the right size is important. The large lawn demands a large aerator to avoid the repetition of aeration. You also keep in mind the fact that when you are not using it, you have sufficient space to store the large one.
Price: The aerator you are going to purchase, supposed to lie within your budget. But you must not be compromised with the quality. So it’s better to have such a product which comes within your budget and also has more features and good build quality.
Load Capacity: Load capacity defines the effectiveness of the tow behind plug aerator. We put extra load on the aerator just to penetrate deeply the soil for better results of aeration. So you verify the fact that your machine can take how much load and there are enough places to take it.
Warranty: Warranty indirectly defines the longevity of the product. Some of the best pull behind plug aerator comes with 3 years of warranty whereas others give only 3 months. Within warranty, if your parts get damaged then those will be replaced by the manufacturer free of cost. So take your decision wisely and choose a good one.
Reviews: Online buyers first check the reviews of the product before having it. This gives a clear idea about the product. So you can trust those products which have a higher rating and it is also suggested as those are given after using it. You can opt for the highly-rated pull behind plug aerator.
Ease of Movements: When you are handling a large device it’s necessary that you can move it with ease around your lawn. This maneuverability depends on the type of wheels that are used in the aerator. Flat free tires help you to move it swiftly. This factor sometimes gets neglected but you should take care of this as well.
Attachments: This kind of aerator is used with a lawn tractor or ATV. So it’s essential to figure out the aerator has a universal hitch or any special kind of hitch which is only applicable to any particular tractor. If so then this will lead to additional expense to have that particular tractor.
When to Purchase Pull Behind Plug Aerators?
If you are a lawn owner then the maintenance of it is a basic thing. If you find anyone of these of the following signs then your lawn is needed to be aerated:
- Thin and bare grasses are present in your lawn. the grass turns yellow or brown, which means their root doesn’t get enough water.
- If you park your vehicles or drive on the lawn regularly. These things put extra pressure on the soil.
- If your children play on the lawn often.
- When the lawn is underwater after a downpour. This means the soil gets compacted and needs to aerate to flow the water properly inside it.
- It’s found hard to stick a screwdriver or pencils.
- Your clay soil on the lawn becomes hard.
Lawn Aerating Tips
Aeration is the secret behind a healthy lawn. Here are some tips related to aerating.
- You should aerate your lawn once in a year. This will help the soil to get more fertilized if it experiences a lot of stress
- If your lawn has the cool season, then autumn or spring season is the best time to aerate. On the other hand, the grass type is warm-season then you need to aerate it in the spring or summer seasons.
- You aerate your lawn after sprinkling water or a day after a rainfall. The moist soil helps to get the best result.
- You should use the tool that rids off the plug of 2 to 3 inches deep.
- You must not aerate your lawn after seeding it for at least 1 year.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Best Pull Behind Plug Aerator
An aerator is a tool that is used to transpierce the soil with its spikes or plugs. By the time the soil gets compacted due to excessive stress on it. Because of it, the roots of the grass don’t get an adequate amount of water, air, and nutrients. So an aerator removes the clogs from the soil and makes it more fertile.
In case of aeration, the plugs aerators are found more fruitful than spikes aerators. In spike aerators, the spikes push the clay into the soil creating a comparatively small hole on the ground. On the other hand, the plugs pull out the soil by making a large hole on the soil. So plug aerators give long term results.
You can easily do the maintenance of your best pull behind plug aerator at home if your aerator condition is not pretty much complex. If that then you should need a professional for that to restore it in the previous condition. You can also maintain this at home by applying synthetic oil to the moving parts, painting the body to avoid rusting.
No, you can wait for at least one week after aerating. The hard clay plug can break the mower blade or make it dull. So you can mow your lawn before aerating it.
As they look alike, most of the people get confused about them. They are different in their working functions. Scarifier is mainly used to remove the organic deposits like thatch, dry leaves on the lawn. Whereas the aerator working function is to create holes on the soil to pass the water and air into this.
Final Verdict
Most of the houses have a lawn with them. But it is also important to maintain it properly. While you move around a healthy lawn, it makes you feel fresh and happy, especially in the morning time. So aeration is a process that benefits you by aerating the lawn and making it greener.
Hence having any one of the best pull behind plug aerator can save your time from tiresome hand tools and also maintain the lawn. In this article, we have shortlisted some of the most popular tow behind aerators. We wish this will help you to purchase an aerator which suits you best, and in turn, help you to make the lawn look more gorgeous.
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