Scarifying your lawn: a simple guide
Give your lawn a new lease of life: scarifying loosens the soil and helps you grow a thick, green lawn. What do you need to look out for, what are the steps to follow, and which scarifier is right for you? Find all the top tips here.
What is lawn scarifying?
Scarifying is like a deep clean for your lawn. Using a scarifier, you score the surface of the grass to comb out mulch, thatch and weeds. This scoring action encourages the grass to produce new shoots, while combing out debris helps the soil to breathe. This prevents mould and improves nutrient supply. The result? A thicker, healthier and more beautiful lawn!
When to scarify your lawn
The best time to scarify your lawn is in spring – before you get started on any other lawn care tasks. This is the perfect way to prepare the grass for its growing season. If needed, you can scarify it again in autumn, but no more than that. Find out what else you should be doing throughout the year in our Lawn Care Guide!
Which is the best scarifier for you?
Scarifiers are similar to lawnmowers but are designed for a specific task and come in various models. Which one is the best fit? That's for you to decide:
Petrol ScarifierPerfect for large areas, powerful and with a long reach.
Cordless ScarifierGreat for medium-sized areas, easy to handle, versatile and quiet.
Electric ScarifierGreat for medium-sized areas and very quiet too
Hand ScarifierIdeal for small spaces, great value and quiet.
Top tip: Scarifiers with a collection bag gather the raked-out thatch as you go. You can also get lawnmowers with a built-in scarifier. These 2-in-1 tools save you space and money.
How to scarify your lawn: Four steps to perfect lawn care
- Mow the lawn
- Set the cutting depth
- Scarify methodically
- Lawn aftercare
1. Mow first, then scarify
Although scarifying is important for your lawn, it also puts it under stress. That's why you should leave it to rest for a while afterwards. Before you scarify, you should mow it two to three times. Cut the blades of grass to a length of about 2 cm.
2. How to scarify correctly – how deep should you cut?
Scarifiers can be set to a specific cutting depth. You can determine this by placing the scarifier on the ground – the blades should just about touch it. A short test run will show if the cutting depth is set correctly. As a general rule:
- For a young lawn with a shorter root system, set a cutting depth of no more than 3 mm.
- For an older lawn with moss and weeds, you can work with a depth of up to 5 mm.
3. What's the best way to scarify?
Tempted to go criss-cross over the lawn? It's best not to. Scarify the area methodically – first in straight lines lengthways, then in straight lines crossways. This checkerboard pattern ensures you cover every spot.
4. What should you do after scarifying?
After a deep clean comes deep care: if you lime, fertilise and water your lawn after scarifying, the nutrients will be absorbed into the soil much more effectively. If any bare patches appear after scarifying, reseed these areas.
