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Question for anyone who has used an aerator

16 years ago

Assuming the gas tank is full when I pick it up from the rental place, will one tank full be enough to aerate 10,000 sq ft, 40 holes/square foot? If not, should I fill my gallon gas can or my 5 gallon gas can? How much gas do these things use? Thanks

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Comments (10)

wxman81
16 years ago
Don't you use gas in your lawn mower? I just fill my can full everytime it empties.
paulinct
16 years ago
I would be surprised if you use anywhere near a gallon, assuming the motor is a fairly modern 5-8 hp one. I barely go through two gallons in a season with my 8 year old 6.5 hp mower on 3000 sq. ft. My old 1970s vintage Jacobsen was another story...
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hutchanne
16 years ago
Have the rental man show you how to start and use it. A small demo is important. I picked up a machine and it didn't even run. I had to wait until the place opened on following Monday. Messed up the whole weekend. Have an emergency number for contact. Use the correct gas too.
It sure did aerated me. LOL
lawndivot12
16 years ago
gbig
You might get 10,000sq feet aerated with a full tank but your forgetting that the tank has to be full when you return the rental and also cleaned.These aerators run fairly slowly or they will pull you all over the place.Run it slow as you can and you save gas doing it this way and do a better job. One thing to remember, you can't aerate too much. If it is your first time aerating it will frighten you seeing so many holes but keep plugging, in three weeks you won't even see any more holes. Don't rake the cores up either that is a real no no. I aerate with a rental machine I rented once from Home Depot then bought it from them. Use it two times a year along with a power rake.Make sure you overseed lightly and fertilize when your finished and your lawn will reward you with a a flush of growth that will make you proud. Good Luck.
gbig2
Original Author
16 years ago
wxman, no, that's the thing, I mow with a push reel mower so I never have gas around. Ok, so I'll just fill my little gallon gas can. I'll make sure the rental guy shows me how to use it. Good point lawndivot, about having to return it full of gas. Yes, I'm going to make the lawn look like Swiss cheese and then seed KBG as part of a complete renovation.
Good tips, thanks all.
iowa50126
16 years ago
Wow!

10,000 sqft mowed with a push reel mower! I'm awed.

You my find those aeration cores a pain if the sun hardens them up after you run the aerator.

BTW...It's been my experience with motorized aerators that the advice in the post above about going SLOW is good advice. Those machines will shake, rattle, roll and drag you over your lawn if you go too fast. It will give you a real workout.

Ask the rental company to send along a can of gas for the machine.
lawndivot12
16 years ago
gbig
If I were you and was going to aerate 10,000square feet of lawn I would be sure to tell myself that using a rental aerator that is usually rented out for four hours, your not going to have time to make swiss cheese. By the time you get the machine home, teach yourself how to run it then need to return it, sorry no way your going to do it. You either need to rent it for longer or try a little trick where you rent it. On a friday evening go up and rent the machine about 6 in the evening. Tell the guy you won't be able to return it before the store closes. He will usually let you keep it overnight with no further charge. Worked for me a couple times. I bought the Bluebird aerator from Home Depot a few years ago that I rented. Today I aerated 5,000 square feet of my lawn and it took me 4 hours of hard work. Tomorrow I overseed into the holes.Don't rake the cores up. The cores break down and is the best thing for your lawn. It's just like spreading soil over your lawn. Gets the microbes working on your lawn. lawndivot
gbig2
Original Author
16 years ago
lawndivot, good advice, thanks. But to your point, I'm renting the aerator on a Saturday morning for the day and I have the option of keeping it all weekend for only 1.5 times charge. Meaning it costs like $55 a day but if I keep it Sunday also (they're closed Sunday) they only charge me half the rate for Sunday. So I'll have lots of time.

I won't rake the cores up, but I will roll after seeding which should break up the cores a little I guess.
quirkyquercus
16 years ago
If you're fit and it's not too hot you can use a turf hound manual aerator over 10,000 in 1-3 days
lawndivot12
16 years ago
gbig2
Sounds like you have a good plan. Want to wish you luck and don't forget to fertilize before rolling, the new seedlings will need the nourishment. During the non growing season and you have time, learn all you can about power rakeing your lawn when it has thatch. Will be time well spent. I'm out of here. lawndivot12

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