12 best aerators and scarifiers for lawns

Watering and mowing alone is not enough to keep the lawn looking beautiful. The surface of the ground compacts over time, worsening the access of oxygen to the root system. In addition, the weeds appear in the weed bed, which are difficult to control manually. Special garden equipment helps to solve these problems. Many consumers are unfamiliar with names like aerator, scarifier or scarifier. So they need all the help they can get from our experts.

Pick the right aerator and scarifier

Purpose. The specialist scarifier’s name already describes its purpose.

1. The aerator is designed to enrich the root system of the lawn with air. The scarifier is equipped with a special device with a spring wire or needle teeth. During operation, the aerator makes punctures in the lawn, through which oxygen enters the roots.
2. Scarifier has a shaft with sharp blades. The movement is cutting through the lawn. At the same time the roots are trimmed (further growth is stimulated) and weeds are removed. Scarifiers are also called scarifiers.

Type of drive. Aerators and scarifiers come with two types of motors.

1. Electric motors benefit from low emissions and quiet operation. In addition, equipment with electric motors is cheaper than gasoline ones. The weak point of these scarifiers is their low power. The network models are uncomfortable, because of the need for an extension cord. Battery-powered machines have a limited runtime.
2. Gasoline powered units allow you to care for large areas without depending on mains power. They have more power and efficiency, but it is not very comfortable to work with gasoline-powered machines because of the harmful exhaust and loud noise. Gasoline-driven machines are also more difficult to use.

Gathering garbage. After the work of the scarifier a lot of debris is formed, which is a mixture of grass, roots and other plant debris. Sweeping up by hand is tiring, especially if the lawn is large. Most manufacturers equip their lawn mowers with grass catchers. They differ in volume and material. If a small area is enough for a soft bag of 30-40 liters, then on a large area it will be more convenient to work with spacious containers of 50-60 liters.

We have selected the 12 best aerators and scarifiers for lawns in this review. All of them are sold in garden stores in Russia. When deciding on the placement, the editors of expertology magazine drew on the opinion of experts, taking into account feedback from local consumers.

Rating of the best lawn aerators and scarifiers

Best electric scarifiers aerators

Electric appliances for lawn care are quiet in operation and affordable in price. The networked models are ideal for areas close to home. And the cordless scarifier-aerators stand out for their mobility and maneuverability. Experts paid attention to the following units.

Makita UV3600

Rating: 4.9

Lightness and convenience were the main factors that allowed the Makita UV3600 electric scarifier to take the top spot in our review. The model is equipped with a 1.8 kW electric motor, providing for one pass of the 36-cm wide strip. Experts praised the maneuverability of the unit, which is achieved by installing large wheels. The working depth is up to 1 cm, it has 4 levels of depth adjustment. The model is equipped with a large grass catcher box (40 l). To save space during transportation, the manufacturer has provided a folding handle.

Users praise the scarifier for its comfortable and reliable design, easy maintenance. The disadvantage is the inconvenient installation of the bag.

Advantages

• ease of use;
• maneuverability;
• a capacious grass catcher box;
• compactness.

Disadvantages

• inconvenient bag installation.

AL-KO Combi Care 38 E Comfort

Rating: 4.8

The AL-KO Combi Care 38 E Comfort Scarifier-Aerator on the Russian market sells for the most attractive price. Thus the technique has pleasantly surprised the experts with the functional abilities. With the model, you can pierce and cut through the lawn and remove debris. The manufacturer installed electric motor 1,3 kW, large grass catcher box (55 l), sharp cutting blades (14 pcs.). Working width of 38 cm. The device can be credited with a convenient 5-step depth adjustment and quality assembly. The model gets silver in our review.

Domestic gardeners most of all liked the lightness (14 kg), power, maneuverability and quality of treatment. The disadvantage of the unit is considered the accumulation of grass in the front of the bag.

Advantages

• an attractive price;
• quiet operation;
• large grass catcher box;
• convenient depth adjustment.

Disadvantages

• the grass catcher box interferes with the steering.

BOSCH AVR 1100

Rating: 4.7

It is not for nothing that well-known German manufacturer of gardening and household appliances BOSCH organized the assembly of scarifier AVR 1100 in Britain. The British are considered to be the trendsetters in the sphere of lawn mowing. Tests of the model in Foggy Albion showed such advantages as high performance, directed collection of debris in a hard container. The machine is equipped with a low-powered motor (1.1 kW), but this is enough to handle a lawn width of 32 cm. The aerator is lightweight (9.9 kg) and has a large grass catcher box (50 l). The model gets the bronze medal of our review.

Domestic users liked the compactness of the scarifier. It’s enough to fold the handle and remove the container to easily transport the equipment in a car.

Advantages

• good performance;
• hard dustbin;
• lightness and compactness;
• maneuverability.

Disadvantages

• high price.

CHAMPION ESC1840

Rating: 4.6

The widest processing strip (40 cm) has a Chinese scarifier-aerator CHAMPION ESC1840. The model is equipped with a powerful electric motor (1.8 kW), which makes the technique highly productive. The experts liked the excellent mobility of the unit, the main role in it is played by four large wheels. In addition, the low weight (12 kg) of the product allows easy maneuvering on the lawn. The scarifier aerator also looks good as far as functionality is concerned. The garden helper pierces and cuts through the lawn, removes trash in a soft container (55 l).

The model stops one step away from the prize podium because of some criticism from users. Hooks on the shaft wear out quickly, and it is problematic to buy them from authorized dealers.

Advantages

• affordable price;
• broad functionality;
• lightness and maneuverability;
• broad grip.

Disadvantages

• hooks wear out quickly.

Makita UV3200

Rating: 4.5

Minimal noise (77,97 dB) is produced by the Makita UV3200 Japanese scarifier during lawn care. The model can only cut through the lawn and remove trash, but the price of the unit is one of the lowest. The strength of the technique is the lightness (12 kg) and maneuverability. Small working width (32 cm), allows you to work in hard-to-reach places. The manufacturer installed a small motor (1.3 kW) and a compact grass collector on the scarifier. The four-wheeled device is considered by experts to be compact, which allows it to be transported in a car without any problems.

As for the weaknesses, users lack the power, aerator function. Otherwise, Russian homeowners have no claims to the unit.

Advantages

• quiet operation;
• lightness and compactness;
• maneuverability;
• high-quality assembly.

Disadvantages

• low power;
• Small grass catcher box (30 l).

Greenworks G40DT30 (2504807)

Rating: 4.4

The only cordless model Greenworks G40DT30 closes the top 6 of our review. Our experts liked this aerator for the duration of autonomous operation (about 1 hour). Some users manage to process a lawn area of up to 400 square meters in that time. m. Another attractive point can tip the scales in favor of the unit. This is a unified battery with a capacity of 4 Ah (40 V). It can be adapted from other equipment (saw, cultivator, etc.). d.) of the American manufacturer, so you can save up to a third of the cost of the aerator.

Russian consumers liked the mobility and autonomy. It has a wide grip (35 cm), has a small weight (12 kg). The disadvantages are limited working time and small grass catcher box (20 liters).

Advantages

• mobility;
• lightness;
• good performance;
• wide grip.

Disadvantages

• high price;
• small grass catcher box.

Best petrol scarifiers aerators

Garden equipment with a gasoline motor has high power and productivity. It is suitable for owners of large household plots, as well as for professional gardeners. Experts like several gasoline models.

Cub Cadet XC1 B40 (CC V 40 B)

Rating: 4.9

The Cub Cadet XC1 B40 petrol scarifier aerator gives you a wide range of lawn care applications. The technique can cut and pierce the grass, remove debris. Working width of 40 cm, working depth up to 15 mm. Experts praised the sharp articulated knives (17 inches) and double springs (16 pcs.), all the equipment is durable. The pluses of the model should include stable behavior during work, the optimal combination of power (3.5 liters) and maneuverability. Large wheels with profiled tread provide good grip on the lawn. Model wins gold in our review.

Domestic users are flattered by the ease of operation, automatic roller change, and the quality of materials. The only drawback is the high price.

Advantages

• multifunctionality;
• automatic roller change;
• durable tooling;
• quality materials.

Disadvantages

• high price.

Daewoo Power Products DSC 4000

Rating: 4.8

Not inferior to the winner in functionality Korean Daewoo Power Products DSC 4000. Gasoline technology cuts the lawn, thinning the grass, collects waste in a container. The scarifier’s body is made of solid steel, which protects the engine parts and reduces vibrations. For quality lawn care, the manufacturer has installed two shafts. One of them has blades (18 pcs.), the other one is equipped with needle teeth. Torque is transmitted through the belt, it reduces the load on the motor in case of equipment collision with obstacles.

Users note the strong points of the scarifier, such as the powerful engine (5 l. s.), roomy grass catcher box, folding handle. But the tines break quickly if you accidentally hit the paving slabs.

Advantages

• Sustainability;
• easy start;
• high power;
• good equipment.

disadvantages

• Lifetime tines.

Eurosystems SC42 B

Rating: 4.7

The Italian Eurosystems SC42 B gets the bronze in our review. It has attracted the attention of experts with its affordable price, reliable engine, compact size and a wide grip (42 cm). However, there is no grass catcher box in the set, which is offered as an option. To increase operator safety, the manufacturer has installed a protective cover. It prevents the machine from throwing out stones. American motor can be listed as one of the pluses of the model
The Stratton 450 Series (4 L). s.), great working depth (20 mm) and robust steel housing.

Owners like the good traction of the wheels on the lawn, the unpretentiousness of the power unit and the wide filler neck. The lack of a grass catcher box is noted as a disadvantage.

Advantages

• affordable price;
• broad grip;
• safety during operation;
• durable motor.

Disadvantages

• no grass catcher box.

Viking LB 540

Rating: 4.6

Power combination (3.0 l. s.) and manoeuvrability enabled the Austrian Viking LB 540 to earn its place in our review. Gasoline technology can easily cope with neglected lawns, removing grass felt and moss. The model is inferior to the top three in such parameters as working width (38 cm) and power, but it has a better processing depth (25 mm) than its competitors. Manufacturer used shockproof polymer for the body, the power unit is made by Kohler. The front and rear wheels are equipped with double bearings, which make the movement of the equipment easy and uniform.

Russian consumers liked the reliable engine, compactness (folding handle), the ability to collect debris. But the bag gets clogged fast, and the price of the unit is quite high.

Advantages

• maneuverability;
• deep aeration;
• a reliable motor;
• double bearings.

Disadvantages

• small bag;
• high value.

MTD Optima 35 VO

Rating: 4.5

The well-known American manufacturer of garden equipment offers the Russian consumer MTD Optima 35 VO. The model appeared in 2016, at that time it was equipped with the most advanced technology. Includes blades for removing moss, lichen and debris from the lawn. For the aeration of the lawn, gasoline technology has spring tines. Experts praise the scarifier’s quiet operation, low fuel consumption and low toxicity. The width of the capture looks modest in the model (35 cm), the depth of processing is 15 mm. The trash is collected in a soft grass catcher of 45 liters.

The owners of MTD Optima 35 VO appreciated the light weight (29 kg) of the scarifier-aerator, its compactness and maneuverability. From the disadvantages they highlight the high price and modest performance.

Advantages

• folding handle;
• multifunctionality;
• quiet operation;
• economy.

Disadvantages

• high price;
• modest performance.

ATRIOT SCG 212

Rating: 4.5

Low price and plenty of power were the key factors that earned the PATRIOT SCG 212 a place in our top 6. American design is assembled in China, which explains the attractive price. Powerful motor (7 l. s.) Processes a strip of lawn 40 cm wide without any problems. The kit comes with two interchangeable nozzles, one of them helps saturate the roots with oxygen, the other prunes the roots (to activate growth). All garbage is collected in the grass catcher box of 45 liters. Experts liked the big wheels, which allows you to work comfortably on uneven ground.

Domestic users are happy with the scarifier’s functionality, the quality of lawn processing and its affordable price. On the downside, they listed the quick filling of the grass catcher box.

Advantages

• high power;
• low price;
• multifunctionality;
• big wheels.

Disadvantages

• The grass catcher fills up quickly.