On Thu, 07 Aug 2014 08:42:13 -0700, Oren wrote:

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.

The Mantis aerating tines do a great job of thatching, for weeding
simply reverse the tilling tines, works well. And depends what you
mean by a "large" lot... the Mantis can handle any size lot one would
normally push mow... I'd say it could handle a 1/4 acre, for anything
much more than a 1/4 acre I'd prefer a riding mower.