SNT4, Rev 03/21/2022
Copyright © 2022 Vibrant Yard Company LLC, Wichita, Kansas, USA. All rights reserved. Page
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Important Helpful Hints
1.
The tines may clog if the soil is too dry or too wet. Please aerate one day after at least one inch of rain or
irrigation. If you have a sprinkler system, each sprinkler zone will need to run for 60-90 minutes. It
takes time for water to be absorbed into the soil, especially clay soil, so it is essential to wait one day. In
other words, the soil must be thoroughly moist to a depth of 3-4 inches. The tines will be able to aerate
heavy clay soil without clogging if the soil is thoroughly moist, but not soaking wet.
2.
Pencil Test:
a)
One day after at least one inch of rain or irrigation, prior to lawn aeration, insert a wooden pencil
into the soil to test for proper moisture content. You must be able to insert the pencil into the
soil to a depth of 4 inches with one hand without too much effort or breaking the pencil.
b)
Upon removing the pencil from the soil, inspect the surface of the pencil. The surface should be
clean and virtually free of mud. If the surface is covered with mud, the soil is too wet and soggy
for lawn aeration. Please wait one day before testing again.
c)
If your clay soil is highly compacted or has never been aerated, water may not readily absorb
into the clay soil. Water will simply run off the surface of the compacted soil during rain or
irrigation. Highly compacted clay soil may seem moist at the surface after rain or irrigation but
remains dry and compacted underneath the surface. You may only be able to insert a pencil
about 1-2 inches into the soil even after a day of heavy rain or irrigation. During lawn aeration, a
compacted soil plug may stick to the tip of the aerator tine and impede soil core extraction. We
suggest you proceed with aerating the lawn anyway although no soil core is extracted. Use one
set of tines only. Note that the tine tips may wear more quickly, especially if the soil contains
rock. The tines will create holes in the ground which will serve as little reservoirs to collect
water during the next rain or irrigation and allow water to reach deeper into the ground. Conduct
a second pencil test one day after at least one inch of rain or irrigation. The second pencil test
should show deeper moisture absorption. A second aeration should yield better results and
should extract soil cores more successfully. So, it may take two lawn aerations to loosen a
highly compacted soil. The tine tips may be sharpened with a grinding stone if they become dull
or chipped.
3.
If your area has experienced prolonged drought, a short rain or irrigation will not provide sufficient
moisture for aeration. If the tines are unable to penetrate the ground, the soil is definitely too dry. The
tines may wear prematurely if the ground is too dry.
4.
Core aeration should not be performed in bare areas without grass; the aerator tines will clog if used in
bare soil. Please use a tiller or cultivator to loosen the soil in bare areas.
5.
The soil cores left in your lawn as a result of using the Step ’N Tilt® will promote beneficial biological
activity that helps decompose thatch and grass clippings. The soil cores will disintegrate back into the
soil within a couple of weeks.
We design and manufacture the Step 'N Tilt® to be durable and last a lifetime. In the event that something is
broken, we carry all the replacement parts including all the bolts and nuts at
https://vibrantyard.com
Step ’N Tilt
®
is a registered trademark of Vibrant Yard Company LLC
