Hound Dog Products HDP3-8 Turf Hound Aerator
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Hound Dog Products HDP3-8 Turf Hound Aerator

Average Rating:
Average rating of 4.0/5Average rating of 4.0/5Average rating of 4.0/5Average rating of 4.0/5Average rating of 4.0/5
List Price:
$24.99
Our Price:
$21.46
You Save:
$3.53 (14%)

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Product Info

  • Brand: Hound Dog
  • EAN: 0795692103060
  • Manufacturer: Hound Dog

Features

  • Turf Hound tool allows thicker, healthier lawn growth
  • Removes 4-inch plugs from turf to allow water and fertilizer flow
  • Durable steel construction and rustproof finishes for long-lasting wear
  • U-shaped handle and large footstep for easy stepping and comfort
  • Limited lifetime warranty

Editorial Reviews:

  • Use the Hound Dog Products "Turf Hound" to makes room for grass roots to grow thicker and healthier, for a thicker, healthier lawn. The Turf Hound removes 4-inch plugs of turf to loosen compacted soil and break down thatch, allowing for the free flow of water, air, and fertilizer to the roots of your lawn and curing its trouble spots. It is the secret solution to having golf-course-quality turf. The Turf Hound's unique U-shaped handle is designed for easy stepping and comfort; it also features a rust-proof finish and durable, lightweight construction for long-lasting wear, as well as a large footstep for greater ease. The Turf Hound comes with 4-inch steel coring tubes. A limited lifetime warranty is included.

Spotlight customer reviews:

  • Customer Rating: Average rating of 5/5Average rating of 5/5Average rating of 5/5Average rating of 5/5Average rating of 5/5
  • Summary: Does the job
  • Comment: I have soil that is partially clay. This aerator does the job just fine, but using the tool is work. I have about a half an acre and it took me about 4 hours to complete.
  • Customer Rating: Average rating of 4/5Average rating of 4/5Average rating of 4/5Average rating of 4/5Average rating of 4/5
  • Summary: An excellent lawn care tool for semi-yearly use.
  • Comment: Our lawn is around 10 years old and has always had brownish areas in the summer. Occasionally in the past I would go out and use a pitchfork to "aerate" the soil, but after learning that poking holes only compresses the root system, I decided to try this core aerator out instead. For preparation, I cut the grass shorter than usual, set the sprinklers to run each night for almost a week, and worked on the lawn on a cool and cloudy Sunday morning.

    Right out of the (overly large) box, I was a little disappointed with the look of the Hound Dog. It seemed quite small compared to the other garden tools we have, but once I got going with it, I found that its design works well. It was hard to get through some areas (especially the dry patches, where I had to hit the foot bar with a mallet to get the diggers in all the way), but once I got into a rhythm I was able to get down most of the lines without much trouble. I was able to do our entire front lawn in 2 hours (followed by spreads of seed, fertilizer and some leftover garden soil)...not sure what the square footage is, but it's a pretty average size (see the picture I posted). After all this, I really have the feeling that it's going to come back strong in the next month or so.

    Some notes:
    -As others have mentioned, occasionally the core diggers will get clogged. This seemed to occur more often where the soil was dry and/or the tall grass got stuck in the bottom of the tubes. It's not a big deal, as turning the Dog over and pushing the clog through with a screwdriver is simple enough, but I did have to do this a half dozen times. Next time I'll remember to saturate the dry patches with a hose the night before I aerate.

    -I wish the Dog had some sort of rubber padding on the top part of the handle. Holding it as you push down isn't so much a problem as having to pull it back up over and over. I use my hands quite a bit but still had redness and blisters after using it, and had to stop a few times during the task to flex them (and to take a break). I used a piece of foam as makeshift padding, but thick gloves would be a better option. Also, when I hit parts of dry soil/rock, the whole tool shifted and hit the side of my knee, so I'd recommend wearing pads there too.

    Despite its looks, the Hound Dog worked pretty well, and given the right preparation beforehand, should allow for a fast and painless way to aerate your yard.

    EDIT: A month later and the grass looks much fuller and greener. Of course, I've been watering it a lot and I did fertilize it, but the aeration made the big difference. There are still some brown areas but they're filling in nicely.
  • Customer Rating: Average rating of 5/5Average rating of 5/5Average rating of 5/5Average rating of 5/5Average rating of 5/5
  • Summary: Good product
  • Comment: We bought this aerator for our medium sized lawn. It was not difficult using it when the lawn is perfectly moist (not overly watered). I removed the plugs of soil from the lawn and waiting to see the results of aeration.
  • Customer Rating: Average rating of 2/5Average rating of 2/5Average rating of 2/5Average rating of 2/5Average rating of 2/5
  • Summary: If you have Clay stay Away
  • Comment: I grow a 100% organic lawn and manual tools/procedures are all I use to care for my lawn. Manual reel, Manual edger, Grass shears, Compost, Organic Fertilizer, etc etc. For 4 years I took a stand and made this lawn a human powered lawn. However, Next year I'm breaking my stand on saying no to gas powered lawn maintenance and allowing the begging yard contractor to core aerate with the gas toro aerator.

    Season 1 of Use (Last Year)
    Right out the packaging and to the lawn I went last growing season with the hound dog in hand. I was full of energy and boy did I need it, but that's not whats wrong with this tool. Being in the south with clay soil will result in pain and defeat. A disclaimer is needed warning southerners about this tool's ineffective use in clay soil as it repetitively penetrated only 1/4 of an inch deep. I tried this tool when the clay soil was wet, damp, somewhat damp, 100% dry, and semi dry, but nothing mattered as I followed the dreaded pattern of step, unclog, step, unclog, step, unclog, step, unclog. Fed up I went to the one strip of my lawn that I knew from digging several feet contains the least amount of clay and the the largest amount of softer black soil. The tool worked nicely as the plugs pushed each other out. I was able to get into a groove in this black soil section and work almost to a beat. So back to clay I went and immediately Step, Unclog, Step, Unclog. It got so frustrating that I even sprayed the inner plug pipes with WD40.......So I finished the lawn in about 3 days with some sections having plugs 3-4 inches deep and the majority of others 1/4 of an inch deep.

    Season 2 of Use (June 2010)
    I break out the tool again well aware of its fault. As I used the tool making sure to step into the center, I accidentally picked up a method of rocking side to side and jumping that penetrated deep into the clay, it works nicely and has added to the dreadful routine. The new routine is Step, Rock Left, Rock Right,Rock Left, Rock Right, Jump, Jump, Unclog, Step, Rock Left, Rock Right,Rock Left, Rock Right, Jump, Jump, Unclog. My neighbors must think I'm an accidental discharge from the loony house.. The bad part is that after approximately 2+ hours in the 90+ degree heat you turn around and quickly realize you've only properly aerated an area the size of a king size bed. I say properly as in each square foot contains 8-12 holes that are at least 3 inches deep.

    Ive come to realize that this tool is for non clay owners. So to make that clear, this tool can work on say cool season grass like in the north east. Also it would be nice if the metal handle was covered with soft rubber grips.

  • Customer Rating: Average rating of 4/5Average rating of 4/5Average rating of 4/5Average rating of 4/5Average rating of 4/5
  • Summary: Does the job
  • Comment: After realizing that I would have to rent a truck in addition to the mechanical aerator I looked to see if there was a suitable alternative and came across this item. I'll keep it brief. It works well if you apply even pressure and head the warning not to use in moist soil. It made from heavy gauge steel and the welds around the tubes appear to be hand done. I examined several before I found one that had a consistent weld bead around the top and bottom of each tube i.e. no welding slag. Overall I'm very satisfied with this tool.

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