When to scarify your lawn .

Scarifying

Scarifying or de-thatching is an essential exercise rather than a remedial maintenance job,& every one to two years the enthusiast needs to make this a regular job if you want that perfect lawn

What does de-thatching or scaryfying do?

During the course of a season - especially if the grass has remained active during periods of the season that would normally see growth slow down - thatch and moss growth builds up stopping light and air getting through to the lawn.

If this thatch layer builds it encourages moss and weeds to take over leading to a poor quality lawn. The scarifier is in effect a vertical mower with knife blades spaced out along a reel - much like a cylinder on a mower - these blades can be set at different heights and used in slightly different fashions.

The deeper the blades are set the more extreme the effect will be when scarifying.

A deep cut into the soil with your scarifyer, will cut through the shallow roots of the grass will cause a tillering effect - tillering is when the grass sends out new shoots from the root base and increase the grass mass by extending its own rootzone. If the procedure is practised on a regular basis this root pruning will encourage a thick root growth and crowd out weed and discourage moss.

A light scarify can be set to brush the surface without any interference with the root of the grass, and you do this if you just want to remove a build up of dead grass or take out lateral growth......you should do this procedure on a regular basis for a quality lawn.

Modern professional scarifiers are fitted with a grooming reel set just behind the front roller. This keeps the surface you are treating aerated and free from build up of lateral growth. Great for keeping bowling greens, tennis courts or cricket squares in order.

How to Scarify

First cut your grass three days before the scarifying is to take place. This will clean up the surface of any leaves or debris as well as a build up of growth. Cut the grass again on the day you want to scarify. This will help to remove any moisture and a further growth of grass.

Scarifying will produce bundles of dead grass so you need to make sure that the machine is not having to labour through the normal vertical grass growth as well.

Set the blades of your scarifier to the required height - if the lawn is dense and springy then an initial pass just into the surface will clear the way for a second lower pass without clogging the collection box too quickly.

Repeat the process until you are satisfied that you have removed sufficient grass and thatch.

Not every scarifier comes with a collection box which means that you may have to collect the grass by raking it up.

Keep on top of this & you will have a clear & quality lawn free from moss & weeds

View the perfect general purpose scarifier to buy here