Scarifying grass: how and when do you do it?
Scarifying your lawn may sound complicated, but essentially, you're simply removing moss and dead material from your lawn. Simple, effective, and essential for a healthy lawn. We'll show you when to scarify your lawn and how to do it step by step. You'll be mastering this task in no time!
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Almost every lawn is prone to bare patches and moss . You can prevent this by regularly scarifying your lawn. Scarifying removes the thatch layer in the grass, which is dead organic matter (often brown or mossy) that hinders new grass growth. This allows light and air to return to your lawn, and water and nutrients can reach the grass roots effectively.
Scarify your lawn in spring (March-April-May) or early autumn (September-October). These are periods when the grass is growing and will quickly recover.
Scarifying your lawn during the hot summer isn't a good idea: your plants will be too fragile and will dry out faster. Scarifying during light rain isn't harmful, but in extremely wet weather, it's best to wait a bit to avoid damaging the grass too much. Definitely don't scarify if night frost is expected; the grass won't be able to grow and recover properly.
Do you have a new lawn? Wait at least a year before scarifying, otherwise you could damage the grass.
Scarifying your lawn generally only needs to be done once a year. If you're experiencing a lot of moss in your lawn , consider scarifying it a second time during the year. Moss is most common on (acidic) clay or peat soil, so you can do it more often.
To scarify, you'll need a spring-tine rake or a scarifier. You essentially "scrape" through the grass to loosen the dead material. It might look a bit messy afterward, but don't worry: you'll have a beautiful, green lawn again in no time.
Below, we explain the best way to scarify by hand (or, well, with a rake). Although it's pretty much the same with a machine.
Before you start scarifying, mow the grass to a height of 3-5 cm. Remove the grass clippings from the lawn so you can easily reach the thatch layer.
Use a rake to gently remove the thatch from your lawn. You'll soon see brown, grassy material and moss loosen and build up. Don't rake more than 1 cm into the soil. Be careful, as you may damage the grass. Leave a small amount of thatch behind—a thin layer helps protect your lawn.
Rake in vertical and horizontal strokes to remove the thatch evenly. First, work the entire length in strokes, then cross them and work across the width. This way, you'll reach every corner of your lawn.
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If you have a well-maintained lawn, you can scarify it at a depth of 5 mm. Try not to scarify deeper than 1 cm. Any deeper will result in an uneven lawn with a lot of moss.
Tip!
After scarifying your lawn, you can get started on these chores.
Rake together the loose moss and grass clippings with the rake. Add this to the compost pile .
After scarifying, it's wise to aerate your lawn. This reduces soil compaction and promotes a stronger root system. You can simply use a rake: insert it into the soil at regular intervals and wiggle it gently back and forth.
Immediately after scarifying and aerating, your lawn often looks worse than before. You can then use fertilizer to stimulate growth, or simply give the grass time to recover.
Do you have acidic soil in your garden? Then it's advisable to spread lime. This will slightly deacidify the soil, making it less likely for moss or weeds to grow.
