DIY Lawn Aerator

Aerating your lawn is a good idea to help the roots grown deep in the grass and keep your lawn in good shape. You can easily make your own lawn aerator if you do not have one and do not want to spend money buying one. Always water your lawn well before aerating, for the best possible results.

Materials needed to make your own lawn aerator:

• Plexiglas piece large enough to trace and cut out the shape of your feet; you may also use old shoes or flip flops.


• Screws with washers and nuts or nails


• A jigsaw, only if you are using Plexiglas


• Drill


• Velcro


• Glue


• Gel foam shoe insert

Making your own lawn aerator:

1. Trace both of your feet onto the piece of Plexiglas. Cut the shapes out with the jigsaw. Be careful not to let the jigsaw overheat; take breaks to allow it to cool.


2. Drill holes large enough for the bolts to fit through.


3. Insert the bolts into the holes with the nuts and washers. Insert them with the spike part facing down and the flat part at the top.


4. Cut three strips of Velcro. These should be long enough to hold your lawn aerator on your foot.


5. Put on shoes, and then attach the aerator to you, by wrapping it around your shoes. Do not try to walk on hard surfaces with these spikes on.


6. Walk around your lawn to aerate it; this should usually be done one or two times per year.

Another way to make a lawn aerator:

1. Poke nails through the sole of a pair of shoes that you no longer intend to wear. Place nails about an inch apart. The pointed part should be coming out of the shoe and facing down.


2. Use a thick coat of glue on the inside of the shoe to help keep nails in place and to protect your feet. Let the glue dry and then apply a second coat.


3. Use a gel cushion or a foam one to help protect your feet from the nails.


4. Put on the shoes when you are ready to aerate the lawn.

Alternate directions:

1. Use a flip flop in addition to an old pair of shoes. Use only the sole of the flip flop.


2. Poke nails through flip flop sole.


3. Cover top of flip flop with glue as stated in the directions above.


4. Glue flip flop's sole to the bottom of an old pair of shoes.