In order for your lawn to grow lush green and dense, it must be scarified regularly. It's actually not difficult if you keep a few things in mind.
Without scarifying, the lawn will become thatched over time. The reason for this is mowing residues that remain on the green area. Foothills of other plants and roots also ensure an increasingly dense layer of thatch on the lawn. Nutrients are withheld and air and water can no longer penetrate to the roots. Moss and disease are gaining the upper hand.
If your lawn looks like the one described above, it's high time that you grab the lawn aerator and work the lawn. If you want to scarify with a hand-held device, you should only do this on smaller areas. To scarify a larger lawn, I recommend a power tool. It's faster and easier. If you don't want to buy a scarifier directly, rent one from a specialist dealer, i.e. from a hardware store or garden center. The rental fees are quite cheap and you can practically test which scarifier suits you best.
See also our scarifier recommendations in the device overview.
How to scarify?
The basic principle when scarifying is:
When scarifying, the blades must penetrate the soil vertically and cut off the flat roots and foreign grass as well as the weeds.
Scarifying: step-by-step instructions
- Wait for dry weather.
- Mowing the lawn.
- Adjust the height of the scarifier blades (the turf should be scored about 3 mm).
- Do not stop when scarifying, otherwise the grass surface will be too injured at this point.
- Always scarify in rows.
- Finally, rake off the loosened thatch.
When to scarify?
The right time for scarifying is spring, around the months of April to May. But autumn, from mid to late September, is also a good time for this kind of gardening. Ideal conditions for scarifying are always present when the soil is moderately moist and has a slightly dried surface.
➽Extra tip for heavy soil: After scarifying, apply a layer of sand to improve air circulation.
Sowing the lawn again after scarifying
Once you've finished scarifying, your lawn will look as if a Champions League final took place on it. I can reassure you, the reclaimed lawn grows together again.
To avoid other lawn weeds settling in the scratched soil, it is important to sow new lawn after scarifying. It is best to use overseeding mixtures to fill in the gaps.