how long will it take to aerate 1 acre?

Joe

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Mar 31, 2009, 10:37:53 AM3/31/09

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I am going to rent an aerator and it's $50/4 hrs. . I cannot fit it in
my car and I'm thinking of approaching my neighbor and splitting it
with him since he has a pickup truck. the combined acreage of both of
our lawns is about 1 acre. Is it possible to aerate 1 acre correctly
in 4 hours?

gpsman

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Mar 31, 2009, 10:49:40 AM3/31/09

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On Mar 31, 10:37 am, Joe <joe5...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Is it possible to aerate 1 acre correctly
> in 4 hours?

How far is the rental place from your acre?
-----

- gpsman

Mike Paulsen

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Mar 31, 2009, 11:42:03 AM3/31/09

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The rental place should be able to give you a ballpark figure for square
feet per hour. An acre is around 45,000 sq ft.

If the aerator covers a 2ft width then you'll walk about 4 miles to
cover an acre. A normal walking pace is 2-3mph, so 4 hours should give
you enough time.

ransley

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Mar 31, 2009, 11:53:06 AM3/31/09

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Frozen ground areates itself upon thawing, worms do it all summer. I
say a waste of money, its just a way for landscapers to sucker out
extra bucks.

LouB

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Mar 31, 2009, 11:55:19 AM3/31/09

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Or maybe just a good raking to remove old thatch.

Lou

Steve Barker

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Mar 31, 2009, 11:58:08 AM3/31/09

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how wide is it? is it a pull behind (your lawn tractor) or a self
propelled walkbehind? Either way, 4 hours should be more than plenty.
However, you won't get a good "do" unless your soil is somewhat moist at
the time. If it's hard and dry, you'll only pull about 1" plugs out.

s

Steve Barker

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Mar 31, 2009, 11:58:44 AM3/31/09

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43,560 sq ft.

Limp Arbor

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Mar 31, 2009, 1:30:10 PM3/31/09

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To do one acre will take exactly 4 hours and 1 minute including travel
time.

tra...@optonline.net

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Mar 31, 2009, 3:07:41 PM3/31/09

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4 hours rental should be enough time to aerate an acre, assuming about
one hour is wasted in transit, loading/unloading, etc. and that the
area is reasonably open, not requiring lots of stopping and
turning. If it's just one big rectangle, it goes a lot faster.

Joe

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Mar 31, 2009, 7:26:27 PM3/31/09

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"Joe" <joe...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:98553ffc-fa76-4104...@d19g2000prh.googlegroups.com...

keep in mind you don't aerate like you mow. meandering, overlapping,
general directional sloppiness, all which increase speed, are acceptable
when aerating.

RickH

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Apr 1, 2009, 11:49:50 AM4/1/09

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Apparently you've never tried growing grass in Illinois clay at low
elevation, or in areas where the developer stripped to clay then
applied little topsoil. I agree that it's a waste if you have decent
soil, but with compacted clay soil aeration works wonders.

C & E

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Apr 2, 2009, 10:03:33 PM4/2/09

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"Joe" <joe...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:98553ffc-fa76-4104...@d19g2000prh.googlegroups.com...

My strategy on rentals is to pick it up at the end of their workday, giving
me a little slack time for half the travel time.

Steve Barker

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Apr 2, 2009, 11:05:05 PM4/2/09

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my local joint only charges one day if picked up after noon on saturday.
Due in by 9am monday.

Message has been deleted

ransley

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Apr 3, 2009, 6:49:08 AM4/3/09

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No never clay thats true, but Illinois yes. The thing is where I am
everyone has good dirt, and lawn services still push areation just for
extra money, not because its needed. Muching grass and fall leaves
will over years amend clay to a better top soil.