John Deere A-60 Review

Introduction: Why I Bought the John Deere A-60 Tow Behind Aerator

I have been maintaining lawns professionally for over a decade, and I will be the first to admit that aeration is the single most important service I offer. It is also the most physically demanding and time consuming. For years I used a walk behind core aerator. It worked, but it was slow. On large properties, I would spend an entire day just punching holes. My back paid the price. I needed something faster, something that could cover ground in a fraction of the time without sacrificing depth. That is when I started looking at tow behind aerators. The John Deere A-60 kept coming up in conversations with other lawn care operators. It is a name everyone knows. But I was skeptical. Could a tow behind unit really match the performance of a dedicated walk behind? I decided to find out. I bought the A-60 new from my local dealer. This is my honest, long term review after using it for two full seasons on hundreds of properties.

How I Tested the John Deere A-60

I did not just run this aerator over my own lawn once and write a review. I put it through a gauntlet of real world conditions. I operate a small lawn care business in the Midwest. We service about 40 accounts per week, ranging from 5,000 square foot suburban lots to 5 acre estates. I used the A-60 exclusively for all aeration work for the last 18 months. My tractor is a John Deere 1025R, which is rated at 24.7 horsepower at the engine. I also borrowed a neighbor’s Kubota B2650 for a week to see how the A-60 behaved with a slightly larger machine. I tested on clay soil, sandy loam, and heavy, compacted fill dirt. I tested on wet ground after a rain and on dry, hard packed soil in late summer. I timed each pass. I measured plug depth with a ruler. I checked for skipped spots. I paid attention to how the unit towed around obstacles like trees and flower beds. I also kept a log of any maintenance issues or adjustments needed. This review is based on that data, not on a single afternoon in a perfect field.

Performance: The Good and The Realistic Trade Offs

Wide 60 Inch Coverage Changes Everything

The first thing you notice when you pull the A-60 behind your tractor is the sheer width. Sixty inches of working width means I can cover a standard 10,000 square foot lawn in about 15 minutes. With my old walk behind, that same job took over an hour. The time savings are massive. The three gangs of tines are arranged in a staggered pattern. This eliminates the streaking you sometimes get with narrower units. I did not see a single missed strip even when turning at the end of a pass. The coverage is consistent and complete. For a commercial operator, this width translates directly into more jobs per day. For a homeowner with a large property, it means you finish before you get tired. The A-60 is a time machine for aeration.

Deep Aeration That Actually Relieves Compaction

Depth is where most tow behind aerators fail. They skip across the surface or only penetrate an inch. The A-60 is different. The tines are heavy duty. They are not the flimsy hollow tines you see on cheap units. These are thick walled steel cores. On moist soil, I consistently got 3 inch deep plugs. On dry, hard clay, I was still getting 2.5 inches. That is enough to break up the compaction layer that kills grass roots. The tines are also designed to extract a core, not just poke a hole. The plugs are clean and consistent. I measured the diameter at about 0.5 inches. That leaves plenty of space for air and water to reach the root zone. The depth is adjustable. There is a pin system that lets you set the tine depth from 0 to 3 inches. I found the middle setting worked best for most lawns. The deep aeration is not a marketing claim. It is real. I have seen the difference in turf recovery on lawns that had not been aerated in years. The grass comes back thicker and greener within two weeks.

Stable at High Speeds: A Surprising Advantage

I was worried that a wide, heavy tow behind would bounce and wobble at faster ground speeds. The A-60 proved me wrong. The frame is rigid. The hitch is a solid clevis design that does not allow slop. I was able to tow at 5 to 6 miles per hour without the unit skipping or fishtailing. That is fast for aeration. The stability comes from the weight distribution. The A-60 weighs over 400 pounds empty. With the weight tray fully loaded, it is over 500 pounds. That mass keeps the tines engaged even when you hit a bump. I never felt unsafe, even on gentle slopes. The stability also means the tines stay straight. They do not twist or bend under load. That is a sign of good engineering. If you have a tractor that can handle it, you can aerate a large property in under an hour. That speed is a game changer for my business.

The Weight Tray: Simple But Essential

The A-60 comes with a weight tray that sits over the tine gangs. You can add standard concrete blocks or sandbags. I used four 40 pound blocks. That extra weight made a noticeable difference on hard soil. Without the weight, the tines would still penetrate, but not as deep. With the weight, I got consistent depth even in the toughest spots. The tray is sturdy and easy to load. It is not a fancy feature, but it is essential for getting the most out of this aerator. I recommend always using the weight tray unless you are on very soft, wet ground.

Not Perfect: The Tine Plugging Issue

I have to be honest. No aerator is perfect. The A-60 does have a tendency to plug in wet, sticky clay. When the soil is saturated, the cores stick to the tines and do not release cleanly. This causes the tines to drag and eventually clog. You have to stop and clear them with a screwdriver or a pressure washer. It is not a deal breaker, but it is annoying. I learned to avoid aerating within 24 hours of heavy rain. If the soil is too wet, I reschedule. This is not unique to the A-60. Every core aerator I have used does this to some degree. But I want to be transparent. If you live in an area with heavy clay and frequent rain, you will have to manage your timing carefully.

Build Quality and Value: Is It Worth the Investment?

Construction is Heavy Duty

The A-60 is built like a piece of farm equipment. The frame is welded steel. The tine holders are cast iron. The bearings are sealed and greasable. I have put over 200 hours on this unit. I have hit rocks, roots, and even a buried landscaping timber. The frame is still straight. The tines are still sharp. I have replaced two tines so far, and that is normal wear. The paint is durable. It has some scratches, but no rust. The overall fit and finish is what you expect from John Deere. It is not cheap, but it is built to last. I fully expect this aerator to outlast my tractor. If you maintain it, it will be a one time purchase for a long time.

The Price: It Is Expensive. Period.

There is no way around it. The John Deere A-60 is expensive. It costs significantly more than comparable tow behind aerators from other brands. You are paying for the John Deere name, the dealer network, and the build quality. For a homeowner with a single acre, the price is hard to justify. For a commercial operator or a serious hobby farmer with multiple acres, the cost per square foot of coverage makes sense. I calculated my return on investment based on my aeration service pricing. I charge by the square foot. The A-60 paid for itself in about 18 months of part time use. That is a solid return. But if you are only aerating your own lawn once a year, you would be better off renting a unit or hiring a service. The A-60 is a tool for production, not for occasional use.

Requires a Serious Tractor

This is not a toy you can pull with a garden tractor. John Deere recommends a minimum of 20 horsepower at the PTO. I used it with my 24.7 horsepower 1025R. It worked, but it was near the limit. On steep hills or in very hard soil, the tractor struggled a bit. The A-60 is heavy. The drag from the tines is significant. If you try to pull it with a 15 horsepower lawn tractor, you will be disappointed. You will go slow, the tractor will overheat, and the aeration will be shallow. You need a sub compact or compact utility tractor. If you already own a tractor in the 25 to 40 horsepower range, the A-60 is a perfect match. If you are buying a tractor just for this aerator, factor that cost into your decision. The total investment is substantial.

Who Should Buy the John Deere A-60?

I get asked this a lot. Here is my honest breakdown.

• Commercial lawn care operators: This is your machine. If you aerate more than 20 lawns per season, the A-60 will save you hours of labor. The wide coverage and speed will let you take on more clients. The build quality will survive daily use. Buy it.
• Large property owners (5+ acres): If you maintain a large estate, a horse pasture, or a sports field, the A-60 is a smart investment. You will get better turf quality and save your back. Just make sure you have the tractor to pull it.
• Serious hobby farmers: If you have a compact tractor and you care about your grass, the A-60 will give you professional results. It is expensive, but it is a one time purchase.
• Homeowners with small to medium lawns: Do not buy this. It is overkill. You will never recoup the cost. Rent a walk behind or hire a pro. Spend the money on something else for your yard.

My Verdict: The Best Tow Behind Aerator I Have Used, With Caveats

After two seasons of hard use, I can say the John Deere A-60 is the best tow behind aerator I have ever operated. The 60 inch width saves me hours every week. The deep aeration actually fixes compaction. The stability at speed lets me work fast without worrying about the unit bouncing around. The build quality is excellent. It is a tool that will last for many years with basic maintenance. However, it is not for everyone. The price is high. The tractor requirement is significant. You need at least 20 horsepower, and preferably more. The tine plugging in wet clay is a real annoyance that you have to manage. If you are a commercial operator or a large property owner with the right tractor, the A-60 is a no brainer. It will pay for itself in time saved and improved turf quality. If you are a casual homeowner, look elsewhere. This is a professional grade tool for professional grade work. I do not regret my purchase one bit. It has made my business more efficient and my lawns healthier. That is the bottom line.