Home ↦ Garden Tools ↦
Best Compost Aerators in 2024
Updated 04-08-2021 – Mia Cohen
Let’s be honest, a loaded compost bin sitting in your backyard for more than two weeks is not going to decompose the pile unless you are consistent with turning it. Expert gardeners suggest that turning compost pile once every 3 to 7 days is necessary to get the job done.
You might not be turning it because doing the work with fork or shovel is hectic, times consuming and it does not pay well either. When the tool you are using to turn the compost bin isn’t deep enough to reach the bottom of the bin and not enough steady to cut through the material, you are not going to get attractive results.
The compost pile is not the only thing which needs to be aerated, you should aerate your lawn regularly as well. This process will help in regulating the oxygen, stopping drainage issues and helping the grass to grow faster.
If you know this already and are considering buying a professional compost and grass aerator which not only makes the work easy but also lasts for the long term then you have got a lot of options at hand.
The first step in buying a product is doing your research and evaluating the options.
We have reviewed many aerators from almost all of the top brands available in the UK and here are some worth mentioning.
The Best Compost Aerator UK
Premium Pick – Garden C.L.A.W – Garden Weasel
Value Pick – Greenkey Garden And Home LTD – Rolling Lawn Aerator
Best Pick – Darlac DP788 Compost Aerator
Product | Key Features | Price |
---|---|---|
Primrose Compost Aerator | Low maintenance, easy to use for beginners | £ |
Post Compost Aerator – Great Posts | Better handle grip, 84 cm long and build with solid iron | ££ |
Flower 90126 – Aerator Metalico | Lightweight 100 x 11 x 11 cm body, best for amateur | ££ |
Bosmere Compost Aerator | 36” long, weights 953 g with adjustable handles for left handed gardeners | ££ |
Darlac DP788 Compost Aerator | Metal body of 79.8 x 11 x 4.6 cm, can penetrate in deep heap | ££ |
Dolmen Compost Mixer And Aerator | Handmade steel body weights 978 g, rustproof | ££ |
Costway Lawn Spike Aerator | High quality galvanized premium steel body, scientifically proven lightweight structure | ££ |
Greenkey Garden And Home LTD - Rolling Lawn Aerator | 30 (44 mm) spikes, wide and long, arrives with spare parts | £££ |
Garden C.L.A.W – Garden Weasel | Multipurpose product, metallic body, comes already assembled | £££ |
1 Primrose Compost Aerator
Using professional tools for gardening could be intimidating but using Primrose Compost Aerator is easy. The product comes already a assembled in the package so you can use it right away. A simple metallic body makes turning easier for new gardeners.
Primrose Compost Aerator was specially made for amateur gardeners who know a thing or two about gardening in general. The tool is made up of steel which makes it long-lasting and durable. The zinc coating protects it from corrosion and above all makes it low maintenance. With Length 84cm (33in) x Width 2cm (1in) the Primrose Compost Aerator will help you to turn the moderate amount of compost pile and it is not heavy so not being able to handle is going to be the least of your concerns. Last but not least, two 5 inches blades attached at the lower end of the tool unfold and cut through the pile of compost effectively. Check out our guide on lawn scarifiers which can also aerate.
- Low maintenance
- Easy to use
- Strong build and long-lasting
- Corrosion proof
2 Post Compost Aerator – Great Posts
If you happen to have the technical knowledge and want a tool that you can assemble yourself and use it as you please then you must be looking for a self-assemble aerator. It takes time and effort in assembling them but they’re more task efficient and effective to use.
Some “self assemble” gardening tools are so difficult to assemble that you would go back to using shovel and forks. However, the compost aerating gardening tool ‘Great Ideas By Post provides’ can be assembled within minutes and you can start turning your compost heap. Just push the tool, twist and pull out. While coming out of the compost bin, the wings create pockets of air.
This tool, unlike the first one, is made of pure Iron, it weights 1.14 Kg and feels strong in hands. The weight might sound a lot but the comfortable handles this tool comes with make it easier to hold and use. The dimensions of the tool are, Height 78cm (2ft 6.75″) x Width 38cm (1ft 3″). It works quite well on moderate to the deep heap. For checking if your heap is done, grab yourself a soil testing kit.
- Comfortable rubber handle
- Easy to assemble
- Built with solid iron
- Comes with two sturdy wings
3 Flower 90126 – Aerator Metalico
If you have a small garden then the small pile of compost that needs turning you don’t need to buy a big machine to do the work. You can get a simple, easily manageable tool that can get the job done without requiring assembling a machine or a lot of your time for that matter.
This sleek Flower 90126 – Aerator Metalico should be your purchase if your compost heap is generally low to moderate in quantity. This tool has a simple structure and is a corkscrew type of aerator. This tool weighs 549 g which is on the lighter side and smooth to use due to the low weight. It comes in one piece so you will not have to spend time assembling it. Dimensions of tools are 100 x 11 x 11 cm. The Flower 90126 – Aerator Metalico due to it’s simple and plain design is the easiest to clean among all of the other suggestions we have mentioned in the list. Just wipe it with a clean old towel and you are ready to place it in your garage.
- Lightweight
- Easy to clean
- Comes pre-assembled
- Best for amateurs as well as advanced gardeners
4 Bosmere Compost Aerator
Bosmere is a well-known and respected brand in the world of gardening and leisure. They are serving amateur as well as professional gardeners for nearly 25 years. Compost Aerator by Bosmere is unique in its design and its good quality has passed all our standard tests.
The Bosmere Compost Aerator is 36 inches tall and made of steel. The tool is resistant to rust as well as low maintenance. The vinyl handles make the tool very comfortable and easy to grip. The set of wings at the bottom end of this aerating tool pushes into the compost and cuts into the soil to aerate the heap effectively. It weighs 953 g which is a moderate weight and easy to handle by gardeners of all ages.
Most of the gardening tools are easy to use for right-handed gardeners. But the Bosmere Compost Aerator comes with a different approach in this matter as it has interchangeable handles. You can adjust the handle if you want them on the left side too. To check the temperature of your soil, check out our guide on compost thermometers.
- Sturdy steel build and rustproof
- Comfortable vinyl hand grips
- Adjustable handles for left-handed gardeners
- 2 flexible wings to cut through soil effectively
5 Darlac DP788 Compost Aerator
This next product in our list is red colored compost aerator which is designed to turn heavy heaps of compost. If your pile of compost is huge and small machinery won’t cut it in time, you need a task heavy machine that can turn it efficiently and thoroughly. Darlac DP788 compost aerator comes with a different yet useful design. It does not have a corkscrew structure but it comes with a plunge and two tough wings. Push the gardening tool deep in the compost heap, the plunger will cut the soil within seconds and when the tool is at the bottom of the bin, twist the tool and pull it out. The two wings like structures will turn the compost pile for you better than you could do with a gardening fork or shovel.
The tool weighs 1.18 kg which is on the heavier side. Fortunately, it comes with two easy to hold black handles so you can use the heavy tool without any problem. Other dimensions of Darlac DP788 Compost Aerator are 79.8 x 11 x 4.6 cm. For more great garden tools, check out our guide on grass strimmers.
- Heavy metal build
- Easy to grip handles
- Comes with two sturdy wings
- Can aerate moderate to deep heap
6 Dolmen Compost Mixer And Aerator
This Compost Mixer And Aerator is by the company named Dolmen Designs. The design of the gardening tool is simple but effective. Instead of having a heavy metallic body like most of the other products mentioned above, Dolmen Designs Mixer And Aerator are slim and long. The tool weights 798 g. The corkscrew shape makes it easy to penetrate deep into the soil and the thinness of the tool makes it easy to move within the compost.
Dimensions of the tool are 125 x 14 x 10 cm, which is long enough to reach to the bottom of the compost bin and mix everything well. Dolmen Designs Mixer And Aerator is a handmade product made of pure steel which does not only mean that it is strong and sturdy but steel is resistant to rust as well. So your Dolmen gardening tool will last you for years. Moreover, an advantage of the tool not being bulky is that it is easy to clean, few swipes of any old fabric would make it clear and ready to use for the next time.
- Handmade steel build
- Long enough to reach the bottom of the bin
- Rustproof
- Easy to maintain
7 Garden C.L.A.W – Garden Weasel
Coming up next on our list is this product. Its name stands for Cultivate, Loosen, Aerate and Weed. This Garden Weasel is made with though metal which means the product will be long-lasting too. The best part about buying a strong build metal tool is that you might as well forget about buying another aerator for upcoming years. This tool is different than all of the others mentioned above, it neither has any wings nor any corkscrew at the bottom. The tool is one of it’s kind, with a metallic claw at the end this tool will aerate the lawn for you within a few minutes.
This tool could be used for aerating compost bin but that’s not it. This is a multipurpose product, push the claw in the soil and it still loosens weed for you, you can use this tool for digging up holes and then plant the seeds. The dimensions of Garden C.L.A.W are 15.2 x 30.5 x 96.5 cm. This long and sturdy gardening tool has two black rubber handles, these handles improve the grip and made it holding the tool easier. For more great tools for your garden check out our picks for garden shredders.
- Multipurpose tool
- Metallic built
- Comfortable handles
- Comes fully assembled, ready to use
8 Greenkey Garden And Home LTD – Rolling Lawn Aerator
This next tool is for people who are willing to aerate the whole garden and turn the soil which means instead of aerating compost pile, this aerator aerates the whole lawn area. Excessive mowing in the summertime could result in the soil not getting enough nutrients. Greenkey Garden And Home LTD manufacture one of the best lawn aerators in the market.
The thirty 44 mm spikes will open up the soil which will not only regulate the oxygen supply but also help with drainage issues. 300 mm (12 inches) width enables you to cover your lawn quickly which will save you time.
The product comes with all the components so you have to assemble them at home but with the assessment of a clear instruction manual, the self-assembly still is done within an hour. With the self-assembled products comes the issue of losing small nuts bolts and other key ingredients. Greenkey Garden Rolling Lawn Aerator comes with spare parts so even if you lose some nuts and bolts you’d have a spare option ready to go with. Overall this product is a self assemble tool which is task efficient and reliable to use.
- Enough wide and long to cover the lawn quickly
- Easy to assemble
- Comes with spare parts
- 30 spikes (44 mm) aerate the lawn quickly
9 Costway Lawn Spike Aerator
This last mention is also an aerator tool for the lawn. Costway Lawn Spiral Aerator can be used for aerating the lawn quickly. The dimensions for this tool are width 45 cm, height 21 cm, and length 126 cm. Unlike any other product from this list, Costway Lawn Spike Aerator is heavy. It weighs 3.5 kg. The reason for this heavyweight is the material this tool is manufactured with.
The long handle is made up of pp plastic meanwhile the roller and the spikes are nothing but high quality galvanized premium steel.
Costway created this tool with research and it is their claim that it has a “Scientific Lightweight Structure”. This technology makes the work done with efficiency. Also, the spikes are lightweight and pointy, which makes it easy to puncture the ground and move the tool around easily. The handle contains a non-slip rubber grip which will make the process a better experience. In short, this product is meant for long term usage of aerating lawn spaces and has a build quality that is second to none. For more garden items, see our picks for garden spades and hoses.
- Made with high quality galvanized premium steel
- Non-slip spiral handle
- Scientifically proven lightweight structure
- Easy for daily use
Related Reads
Best All-Weather Gazebos in 2024
Best All-Weather Gazebos in Updated - Cantilever parasols apart, gazebos are another great way to get full coverage shade in your garden. However, not all gazebos can survive all weather conditions....
10 Best Gazebo Legs Weight in 2024
Best Gazebo Legs Weight in ABC Canopy Heavy Duty Gazebo Weight BagsAutoBaBa Large Gazebo Weight BagsRIOGOO Gazebo Sand WeightsThis product review was written by Ainsley Hunter This product review was written by Ainsley Hunter [table id=478...
10 Best Garden Trolleys in 2024
10 Best Garden Trolleys in VonHaus 75L Garden Tipping Trolley Oypla Heavy Duty Green Garden Cart LIFE CARVER Foldable Garden Cart This product review was written by Charlie Miller This product review was written by Charlie Miller [table...
10 Best Leaf Blowers in 2024
10 Best Leaf Blowers in Makita BHX2501 24.5cc 4-Stroke Petrol Handheld Leaf Blower Garden Gear Leaf Blower Hyundai HYBV3000E 3-in-1 Electric Leaf Blower This product review was written by Ainsley Hunter This product review was written by...
10 Best Garden Hose Reels in 2024
Best Garden Hose Reels in Updated - If you own a garden or lawn, then you need a couple of equipment to make it stay beautiful. Otherwise, it becomes unkempt and an eyesore to you and others. The...
10 Best Garden Spades in 2024
Best Garden Spades in Updated - Finding the perfect spade that is not only effective in digging out soil or cutting roots but also adds value to comfort and ease while you work is hard to find. With...