Draper Garden Lawn Aerator Spike - 30565 - Manual Aeration Spiked Fork Grass Hand Tool, Light Green

I'll start by saying I'm glad I got this, however it required a lot of effort for my medium sized lawn.I cored my lawn in spring as it had been quite compact for some time. As a result, the cores clogged the tool frequently, and most of my time was spent using my garden fork to clear the tool between impressions. One hour, a sore back, and some blisters later, my lawn was looking quite bare and cored. I filled with a sharp sand and compost mix when dry, and raked it in. Fast forward a few weeks and my lawn was draining substantially better and looking beautiful and lush, with a reduction of moss. The work was worth it. There are much easier ways, and better electric tools, but if you are fortunate enough to have the time, and physical ability to do this, then it can give good results. Watch out for stones and roots under the surface. Great pocket money earner for the kids!I've included screenshots from my video I made on YouTube about the process.

Well. I thought to myself, don't always go on reviews. I wish I had now.This clogs up from the word GO!!!Because the hollow tube is straight it clogs straight away, I agree with the other review, it should be tapered and a bigger bore at one end to make it easier for the cores to push out of the top.The soil compacts so much that it is impossible to get the compacted soil out. I am quite a fit person and this was really hard work on my 2 not too large lawns. I had to keep stopping to clear the bores. I spent more time clearing the hollows than anything else.Listen to the other reviews. It's not for the faint hearted and you will spend a long time clearing the hollows. Very poor design. The bottom of the hollow bore where it goes in to the ground is blunt and this makes it even harder to push in to the soil. It doesn't matter what the soil type is, it will still clog up and no soil cores will come out as they are compacted in so hard.I got a long screwdriver to push the mud cores out and it took ages. Expelled more energy removing the soil cores from the hollow bores.This is not fit for purpose and as such under the sale of goods act it is eligable for return as faulty/not fit for purpose.Dave.

Appreciate I have clay type soil, but the thing keeps blocking! Built strong but gave up using it after 30 mins as it kept blocking

For years I've always used a good old fork to aerate my lawn. Both spring and autumn. I also read numerous pro gardeners suggesting using a fork just compacts the soil although it does make holes. I always persevered and wiggled my fork in the ground to try to improve the job I was doing. I had always promised myself I would invest in a 'proper' tool to make it easier. So when I saw this aerator and with it being a Draper made tool I thought I was on to a winner. I'm not sure what other users experiences are but mine are as follows.When I've used the aerator for two to three times into the lawn I find the soil is massively compacted in the circular cutting tubes. So much so that it will not go into the ground again to make another hole. Then you have to clear the holes out to start again. Although its not as easy as it sounds. I put a long masonry drill bit in and literally had to Hammer it to try to remove the compacted soil. The grass was quite wet which I thought would be better to use the tool to remove the soil cores as if the soil had been dry it would have made it much harder and compaction would play a big part.I must say I'm going to persevere with tool as it's a great idea in theory. But in my opinion a garden fork does a simpler job. I did think being a Draper tool it would be great. I must add that the quality and build is excellent so far. Just not simple to use in my opinion. I wonder if anyone has any suggestions?Or someone from Draper tools may be able to give me some advice or a heads up.

Even with a slight sharpening this item is difficult to use, the pipes are straight and clog up immediately, got abandoned in the shed

these aerator are difficult to use. it easily clogs ( on the coring pipe/tubes) because it doesnt have an opening

This has been useless to use, all it does is compact further by pushing soil down into the ground! After rainfall and it being a soft lawn, I went out to use this for the first time. And can honestly say there’s been nothing more frustrating to use, it immediately clogged up after making two holes and is now so tightly wedged into the spikes that I cannot remove it even with force of a stick. I have honestly just wasted money I wish I didn’t, it is not fit for purpose, especially on a top soil/ light clay lawn. It’s well built, but I guess that’s all you’re paying for, because you’re not paying for how it performs. Totally frustrated and will hire mechanical hollow tune aerator from now on.

I bought this to try and help drainage, cut down on moss and get a nicer lawn. It's sturdy, solid metal and very green. After first "dig" soil pops into the little holes. On the second, I expected the first to pop out the top ... one or two did, then they started getting stuck. After much enthusiasm with a garden cane, I still cannot get the soil out. The soil impacted solid in there now. However if you dig around your garden, or throw it down, you do get lots of holes that I think do help to an extent. If you then scatter grass seeds round the garden, it keeps them hidden from birds and lets them grow (if you add a little topsoil) but then your lawn looks like trolls heads popping up with all the focal wee grass tufts.