On Thursday, August 7, 2014 12:33:54 PM UTC-4, wrote:
On Thu, 7 Aug 2014 08:55:01 -0800, "Guv Bob"

wrote:



"Oren" wrote in message ...

On Wed, 6 Aug 2014 22:56:01 -0800, "Guv Bob"

wrote:



snipped



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6zl9duO1o0



[...]



Are you sure that video shows an aerator attachment? Good try but stupid idea.



It is aerating, just a different approach. The Mantis is cutting slits

in the ground (3 inches deep ?), instead of pulling core plugs out. It

achieves basically the same thing. Breaks up the compacted soil,

allows oxygen and micro nutrients, and water to penetrate deeper.



I'd not use the Mantis on large lot, but would for a small area to

break up compacted clay. For a large lot, I'd use a real coring

machine. Both will remove some thatch.



Slitting is not good for this situation. It would do does a lot more damage to the roots and generally makes a muddy mess. Slits close up quickly.. Holes from plugs give water somewhere to drain and filter. Same for fertilizer & grass seed. Slitting is always a stupid idea.





It works well for "renovating" a lawn - slit seeding if done properly

DOES work - it is like using a seed drill

I agree. Slit seeding type device is useless for aeration, but it is very
effective for seeding.