I would like to plant grass seed. I can't rake the soil because it is rather hard. I heard there are aerator spikes that you put over your shoes and walk on the grass. It is supposed to make holes in the ground so the seeds go in and it aerates the lawn at the same time. Has anyone used these and do they work well?

The aerator is as tight as can be and I'll even loosen it a bit, but it still leaks when the water is on. I've tried both metal and rubber or palstic type swivel aerators.

The hollow tines are blocked up and the ground is only slightly damp like it is meant to be. All i am getting is cylindrical holes in the ground with the odd core left on the surface. It is a manual aerator, you have to actually push the hollow tines into the ground. Am i wasting my time if i am not getting cores on the surface?

I am planning to purchase an aerator to pull behind my lawn tractor and all I see are the spike type, not the plug type.