Do you need to rent an aerator to complete a landscaping task?
An aerator allows you to prepare your yard and encourage the growth of thick, green grass.
You probably need to determine whether it makes more sense to rent or buy.
If you only need the tool for a one-off task, rental probably makes more sense.
You can rent an aerator from Lowe’s as part of its extensive tool rental program.
We will cover how much you should expect to rent an aerator from Lowe’s and how to get started.
How Much Does It Cost To Rent An Aerator At Lowe’s?
To rent an aerator through Lowe’s, the cost will be as low as $61 and as high as $860.
You will need to pay a deposit of between $100-$200 depending on the model at the time of placing the rental.
The total cost depends on how long you plan to keep the tool in your possession, and which model you select.
See the prices of the two example aerators available:
You will pay any remaining balance when you pick up the aerator.
Which Aerator Makes More Sense for My Job?
The Billy Goat gas-powered aerator is easier to use, and it doesn’t require a lawnmower.
However, it’s not as wide.
If you have a large area of space to aerate, it will take longer.
It’s also more expensive.
The pull-behind spike aerator attaches to your lawnmower instead of using a gas engine.
It’s much wider, covering more space more quickly.
How Long Should I Rent An Aerator?
Ideally, you should rent your aerator for the day to give you plenty of time to complete your task.
Only rent for four hours if you have a small yard and can get the job done immediately.
It’s frankly not fiscally wise to rent an aerator for more than a day.
Purchasing An Aerator Through Lowe’s
Have you considered buying an aerator instead of purchasing one?
The cost of buying a powered aerator varies based on the features and specifications of the product in question.
See some of the prices for different aerators:
- Agri-fab 48 in. plug lawn aerator: $399.00
- John Deere 40 in. plug lawn aerator: $599.99
- Sun Joe 12.6 in. spike lawn aerator: $138.44
- Agri-fab 40 in. spike lawn aerator: $199.00
To Rent Or To Buy?
If you find yourself faced with the question of whether you should rent or buy, the first consideration is how long you plan to stay at your current location.
If you own the house and don’t plan on selling any time soon, you should probably buy.
As long as you have the space for it.
An aerator takes up a significant amount of space, and you probably don’t want to leave it as an eyesore in your yard.
It’s best to buy if you have a shed or large garage with plenty of space.
If you only plan to stay at your current location for a year or two and don’t have a lot of storage space, renting is the no-brainer option.
How To Rent An Aerator Through Lowe’s
You can rent an aerator through Lowe’s either in-store or online through a similar process.
Step One: Select Store
First, you will need to select the store where you will pick up the rental.
You must pick up and return the aerator to the same store.
You cannot receive or return a rental via mail.
Luckily, there are Lowe’s stores in all 50 states, so you should be able to find a store close to you.
Step Two: Choose Pickup And Drop Off Dates
Next, you will need to select the pickup and drop-off date.
You can pick the rental up later than expected, but you will still need to return the item by the indicated return date and time.
Make a special point to notice the time.
When renting an aerator online, the system defaults to 8:00 a.m., but you can change the time manually.
You may be able to rent an aerator at the store of your choice on demand if you get lucky.
However, you shouldn’t assume that an aerator will be available when you need it if you don’t rent it in advance.
Step Three: Select Rental
After you select the store location and renal dates, you will see the rentals available to you.
Select the aerator you want and continue.
If you don’t see the product you want available at your preferred store, you may decide to try another nearby location.
Step Four: Pay Deposit
Next, you will need to pay the deposit.
For an aerator, you can expect to pay $150.
Always double-check the details of your rental before you submit the deposit payment.
Step Five: Receive Confirmation
After you pay your deposit, you should get a confirmation email with the details of your rental.
Lowe’s Rental Agreement
Before renting from Lowe’s, it’s a good idea to clearly understand the terms and conditions.
For the convenience of renting tools to you, Lowe’s has some basic expectations in return.
1. Return Items On Time
All items must be returned on time.
If you return the product late, you may be charged for a whole day of rental.
Lowe’s takes theft seriously.
If you fail to return a rental promptly, Lowe’s may prosecute.
2. Return Items In Good Condition
You must return all rentals in good condition.
If you return the product dirty, you will incur a cleaning fee.
You will also receive an additional charge if you forget to bring all chargers and accessories.
Finally, you will be charged if you return the item damaged.
All products have limited use and get tested before being rented out, ensuring you receive a working product.
If you use the tool incorrectly, you may accidentally damage it.
Learn about your tool before you use it.
Why Rent Through Lowe’s?
There are several reasons you should rent your aerator through Lowe’s instead of borrowing from a friend.
1. Quality Products
Lowe’s ensures that every product it rents meets or exceeds certain standards.
You won’t have to worry about getting a broken or old product.
Lowe’s tests every single product after it’s returned to ensure it is in good condition for the next customer.
If a product gets old or shows signs of a problem, the store will not rent it out.
2. Tested Processes
Lowe’s has its processes down pat.
The retailer has perfected its systems to make them as effective and simple as possible.
3. Wide Variety
Lowe’s has an extremely wide variety of products available for rental.
Other lawn care products you can rent include:
- Hydraulic tiller
- Walk-behind blower
- Backpack blower
- Brushcutter
- Post driver
- Lawnmower
- Sod cutter
You can also rent a wide range of tools not necessarily related to lawn care, such as power tools and power washers.
4. Know-How
Some of us are ambitious beginners without a lot of experience.
Luckily, the staff at Lowe’s can answer your questions so that you start your project with confidence.
They can also help you make decisions about what products you should rent if you are struggling to decide.
Why You Need To Aerate Your Yard
Aerating your yard can give your yard the breathability it needs to produce lush and attractive greenery.
Aeration also makes your grass grow more quickly.
When the snow melts and things start to get green again, you should prepare your yard for the upcoming spring and summer seasons.
Aeration refers to the mechanical process of removing soil and lawn thatch to allow the rest of the ground to receive air, water, and nutrients more effectively.
Fertilizers can also reach the soil better.
Plus, beneficial insects, such as worms, have better living conditions, as well.
Naturally, you can’t do this manually with a shovel, especially if you have a large area to cover.
How Often Should I Aerate My Yard?
If your yard doesn’t grow as well as you’d like or contains clay in the soil, you should aerate every year.
For homes with a high-quality soil that grows well, you won’t need to aerate quite as much.
In optimal conditions, you only need to aerate every two or three years.
You know it’s time to aerate your yard when you notice the following signs:
- Areas of stunted grass growth
- High traffic
- Standing water
What Time Of Year Should I Aerate My Yard?
Timing is everything when it comes to aerating your yard.
You either have warm-season grass or cool-season grass, depending on where you live.
If you have warm-season grass (live in the South), you should aerate in late spring.
If you have cool-season grass (live in the North), you should aerate in the fall.
How Does An Aerator Work?
An aerator works by digging holes into the ground.
There are a couple of types of aerators:
- Core aerator: hollow tines remove clumps of soil from the ground
- Spike aerator: spikes punch holes into the ground
Most people prefer core aerators since they are easier to use, but they are significantly more expensive.
Most aerators use a gas engine to power the aerator, but you can also find manual models.
Aerators come in different sizes, but they generally create holes 1.5 to six inches deep and two to five inches apart.
Deeper holes tend to create better results.
Judge the distance between holes based on the size of your yard.
How To Aerate Your Yard
You don’t want to spend a lot of time aerating your yard and not getting the results you want, so it’s important to aerate your yard correctly.
Follow these simple steps to aerate your yard.
Step One: Read The Instructions
Since you are using a machine you aren’t necessarily familiar with, you should read the instructions thoroughly.
Read the instructions on how to use the device properly as well as how to aerate.
Most importantly with the device, you need to learn how to turn the machine on and off.
If using a gas aerator, you’ll also need to learn how to add gas to the gas tank.
Always be safe when working with gas-powered devices.
Do not put the device near flames.
Be sure to read about how to care for your rental, too.
Pay attention to any tips and warnings you come across and take them to heart.
Step Two: Prep Your Yard
Start by preparing your yard.
Keep in mind that you should prep your yard before you rent the aerator.
Start by removing all obstacles, such as dog toys and lawn furniture.
You’ll also want to remove medium- and large-sized rocks from the area you plan to aerate.
You should also moisten your yard about one day before you aerate to make it easier to dig up.
Use a hose to give the ground about one inch of water (moist but not turned to mud).
Right before aeration, you should also cut your existing grass low.
Don’t forget to prep yourself as well.
You will want to have on old clothes since dirt may go flying.
You might also want to wear goggles to ensure nothing flies into your eyes throughout the aeration process.
Step Three: Aerate In Simple Pattern
After you allow the lawn to absorb water for a day, it’s time to aerate.
To activate a gas aerator, you will generally turn the ignition switch on and pull the starter (similar to a lawnmower).
If your user manual has different information, always go with your user manual.
Start in a corner and aerate in simple patterns.
Create parallel lines then create perpendicular lines to your first lines to get the best results.
The linear patterns ensure that you aerate the yard evenly and completely.
Step Four: Rake
After you aerate the yard, you should rake the clumps of dirt you created.
If you have an excessive amount of dirt, collect it in city-sanctioned lawn bags and place them out with your garbage.
Step Five: Plant Seeds/Fertilize
After you aerate, you can plant grass seeds.
If you don’t need to plant seeds, you can also use this time to apply fertilizer.
It’s a good time to fertilize since the fertilizer will have great access to the grass roots.
Additional Aeration Tips
Get the job done right with these additional tips and tricks for aerating your yard:
- New grass seeds should not experience aeration for at least a year
- Avoid fertilizer with weed killer (you don’t want it to hinder grass growth)
- Make note of sprinkler lines and plumbing
Conclusion
Lowe’s allows you to rent an aerator for a couple of different time frames, which works best if you only plan to aerate your yard once.
Renting the aerator for a short time, such as one day, will minimize the cost, but you’ll need to plan properly.
Talk to a representative at Lowe’s to learn more.
Resources:
https://rentals.lowes.com/category/Lawn%20Care/817?page=1
https://www.lowes.com/n/how-to/aerate-your-lawn
https://homeguides.sfgate.com/use-gas-aerator-97557.html
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