Lawnpecker attachments: one base frame, many jobs
The Lawnpecker is more than an aerator. The base frame with shaft, handles and step stays the same, and underneath it goes the tool that suits the job: hollow tines for aerating, spikes, solid tines for deep loosening or a single tine for removing weeds. Here you will find all attachments at a glance, what they are meant for and when to use which.
In short
- Hollow tines remove cores of soil. You fill the holes with sand: aerating in the classic sense.
- Spike set makes many fine holes without removing soil. Good for dry spots, footpaths and before overseeding.
- Solid tine set loosens at depth without removing cores. Ideal in late autumn and winter.
- Weed tine removes individual weeds with the root and makes holes for small flower bulbs.
- Adapter kit reduces the penetration depth to 6 cm when cables or nets lie in the soil.
- From spring 2027, knives and cross tines will be added for the solid tine set.
The base frame
Everything starts with the base frame. It is available in anthracite and in stainless steel, with a standard shaft for people up to about 1.80 m and with a long shaft for taller people. The right length matters more than it seems: when aerating you work with your body weight, and a shaft that is too short strains your back.
Hollow tines: classic aeration
Hollow tines are the Lawnpecker’s standard tool. They remove small cores of soil, which are pushed up into the collecting tray. You do not have to pick up the cores, and they do not fall back into the holes. You then fill the holes with sand. This creates lasting channels through which water and air reach the root zone.
| Tine | Suitable for |
|---|---|
| 16 mm | follow-up work and lighter soils. Small holes close quickly and are less noticeable. On heavy, loamy soils it clogs more easily. |
| 20 mm | the all-rounder, also for first use and compacted soils. Easy to fill with sand. |
| 24 mm | loamy, wet and very hard soils. The large diameter keeps the cores from getting stuck and allows a substantial soil exchange. |
Hollow tines come on a plate of two or three. With three tines you reach the necessary hole density faster; with two you need less force per stroke. When and how often to aerate is explained in Lawn aeration, top-dressing afterwards in Top-dressing your lawn with sand.
Spike set: many fine holes
The spike set consists of an aluminium plate with 16 stainless steel spikes, 6 mm thick and 5 cm long. The plate is screwed under the base frame with four solid tines. Spikes do not remove soil, they push it aside. In return, every step makes many holes at once.
That makes spiking an application of its own alongside aerating. On dry spots where water runs off, the holes open up the surface again. On footpaths they loosen the top layer. And before overseeding they create many small seed pockets for the seed to fall into. Brushed in with sand, the holes stay open longer. Spiking does not reach the depth of hollow or solid tines, but as a quick, frequent measure in between it is clearly better than nothing.
Solid tine set: deep loosening without cores
With the solid tine set, the Lawnpecker becomes a deep loosener. Instead of the tine plate, a stainless steel tool holder goes into the frame, and three solid tines are screwed onto it: 12 mm thick, 200 mm long, with an extended point.
Solid tines remove no soil. You push them into the ground and tilt the shaft towards you by about 5 to 15 degrees before pulling out. This breaking angle additionally breaks up the soil at depth. For a good effect, 60 to 100 holes per square metre make sense, so with three solid tines about 20 to 33 strokes.
The best time is late autumn and winter, usually November and December: the soil is moist, there is no snow yet, and frost helps to break up the loosened layers further. Afterwards, walk on the area as little as possible for a while so the lifted soil can settle. The difference between aerating, deep loosening and scarifying is explained in Aerating vs scarifying.
Weed tine: targeted removal
The weed tine is a single hollow tine with a 24 mm diameter. Mounted on the base frame, it removes weeds such as dandelion or plantain with the root, without you having to bend down. Take off the collecting tray for this, otherwise it blocks your view of the plant. Fill the hole with a little sand or soil and a few grass seeds, and the gap closes quickly.
Very long taproots sometimes reach deeper than the tine. If a plant sprouts again from what is left, simply remove it a second time. After two or three rounds the root is usually exhausted.
Good to know
The weed tine is also handy for planting small flower bulbs in the lawn, such as crocuses, snowdrops or grape hyacinths. In autumn, make the holes, set the bulb in with the tip pointing up, fill with soil and water. In spring they flower straight out of the lawn. Only mow these spots once the leaves of the bulbs have died back.
Adapter kit: when something lies in the soil
If you have laid a mole net, water pipes or the boundary wire of a robotic mower shallowly in the soil, the adapter kit reduces the penetration depth of the hollow tines from 9 to 6 cm. The adapter sits between the collecting tray and the tine plate and can be removed at any time.
Which attachment when?
| Attachment | Effect | Best time | Afterwards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hollow tines | remove soil, relieve compaction | late summer, alternatively spring | top-dress, overseed if needed |
| Spike set | many shallow holes, open the surface | all season, before overseeding | work in seed or sand |
| Solid tine set | break up at depth, remove nothing | November and December | spare the area until the soil has settled |
| Weed tine | remove individual plants with the root | as soon as weeds appear | fill the hole, add a few seeds |
| Adapter kit | limit penetration depth to 6 cm | with cables or nets in the soil | as with aerating |
Caring for the attachments
After use, remove soil from the tines, most easily with the tine brush, and store everything dry. Check threads and screws now and then, especially after changing attachments.
What comes next
From spring 2027 we will extend the solid tine set with knives and cross tines that fit the same tool holder. Further attachments are in planning. As soon as they are available, we will add them here.
Frequently asked questions
Do the attachments fit every Lawnpecker?
Yes, all attachments fit the original Lawnpecker base frame. For the adapter kit there are two screw versions: pan head screws for the older frame with round holes, carriage bolts for the current frame with square holes.
Do I need a separate frame for each attachment?
No. The attachments are swapped, the frame stays. If you change often, for example between the weed tine and hollow tines, a second base frame saves you the conversion.
Does spiking replace aerating?
No, it is a different application. Spikes open the surface, hollow tines exchange soil and solid tines loosen at depth. Many people combine them: aerate in late summer, spike in between, deep-loosen in winter.
Can I use the solid tine set in spring too?
Yes, if the soil is moist and not frozen. Allow the area some rest afterwards so the soil can settle before you mow short again.
