I am having my lawn core aerated next month but I think there will be a fair number of areas that they won't be able to effectively reach as they lie along the edge of a pavement, in a tight spot and a curb strip. I'd like to do these areas manually and I know they make ones that you step on and pull up and wanted to see if anyone had used one they could recommend?

I have this one that I use in my wheelbarrow track twice a year (i.e. when I compact the lawn bringing in soil/compost to top off the raised bed garden in my backyard). While I'm doing it, I hit an 8x8 area on both sides of my gate.

I've had it for 3 years. It's well made and I'd buy again.

Here is the one I went with.

Amazon Aerator