A lawn plug aerator is a garden tool that creates holes in the soil and thus helps nutrients and water reach the roots of your lawn. Soils that are compacted and have a high clay concentration will make it difficult for your lawn’s roots to access oxygen and other essential nutrients.
You can aerate your lawn with a spike or plug aerator depending on your lawn and its particular needs. Spike aerators come with a roller and several spikes that will puncture the soil in order to create space for water, air, and nutrients to reach the roots.
Plug aerators make use of hollow tines that remove plugs of soil. Such units also leave small gaps in the soil to allow essential nutrients to reach the root system. The market now offers both manual and powered aerators. You can even find spike shoes for narrower lawn areas or trickier parts.