Having a garden is great, but you soon learn that it takes a little more effort than expected if you want it to look good. Gardens need regular maintenance in order to look good, and the greener the garden the nicer it will look, and that means caring for the lawn.
When it comes to all of the gardening maintenance, there are many different tools that you can use, amongst them the lawn scarifier. And sure, the name of this tool makes it sound like some sort of torture device somehow associated with lawns, but it’s actually a very useful and simple-to-use gardening machine!
Let’s explain it all a bit better…
What is a lawn scarifier?
Let’s start with the main and most important question: what is a lawn scarifier?
Well, a lawn scarifier, which is sometimes known as the dethatcher, is a garden tool that has been designed to cut through the soil. As it does this, it helps remove all of the dead moss and debris such as grass cuttings, to clear the lawn.
As the tool cuts through, it also helps aerate the soil so that it’s healthier, meaning the grass of the lawn will grow better and greener, with fewer weeds and problems.
So essentially, it’s a machine that removes thatch and most, while aerating the soil. It keeps your lawn healthy so that the grass is green and thriving, and weeds are banished from the garden.
There are two main different types of lawn scarifiers: manually operated scarifiers, and machine powered scarifiers.
The machine powered lawn scarifiers are usually powered by either electricity or by petrol, and they have self-rotating blades. The manually operated lawn scarifiers, on the other hand, have rollers that are operated by either pushing or pulling a handle, so you’re powering the blades yourself through your effort.
There are pros and cons to each type of lawn scarifier, but you’ll get the job a lot faster and easier if you’re using a machine powered one!
How to use a lawn scarifier:
Now that we’ve clarified what a lawn scarifier is, it’s time to address the second most important question: how do you use a lawn scarifier?
The actual how-to of using the lawn scarifier isn’t really that complicated. You push it around the lawn and it does its thing. If it is machine powered, then you either need to fill it with petrol or have it powered by electricity, and you should follow the instructions of the model.
If it is manually operated, then you should also follow the instructions of the model, and you will likely have to push or pull on a handle, as you move the tool around the lawn.
So…essentially you just need to follow the instructions of the model of scarifier that you have, and it’s a pretty simple tool to use. However, we can give you some general pieces of advice that work with any type of lawn scarifier, so that you can make sure you are optimizing the use of the tool and getting the most out of it.
Here are our top tips:
Get rid of moss and debris beforehand:
This might sound like an odd piece of advice, why should you remove moss and debris beforehand, if that is what the lawn scarifier is for? But hear us out. A few weeks before you scarify the lawn, use a good moss killer to kill off all living moss and debris.
This way, by the time you scarify the lawn, you’ll be clearing the grass of all the already dead moss, instead of it being cut while alive, which might just cause it to spread all over the place and grow like an epidemic!
Mow the lawn on a low setting:
It’s a good idea to mow the lawn before you scarify it and to do so on a low setting. This way, you will be able to collect all of the cut grass at once, after both jobs have been finished. It saves you time and effort, and it also means the lawn will be in top shape.
Scarify on a high setting:
There are different settings on scarifiers and it’s best to start off with the highest so that you get a good few passes to do most of the bulk of the work. After that, you can lower the setting and simply go over the lawn again from different angles, to clean up any bits that need perfecting.
Apply soil and grass seeds after scarifying:
If your lawn is struggling to grow or is looking a bit run down, the perfect moment for adding soil and grass seeds is right after scarifying. It’s kind of like cleansing the lawn and then adding new growth to it in the most optimal conditions.
When to use a lawn scarifier:
Another question that you might be asking yourself, is when exactly you should be using the lawn scarifier. When it comes to gardening, there is usually a right time for each tool, to ensure that the work is done correctly, and in the right optimal conditions.
The exact time will depend on your location and the weather, so there isn’t a set answer for everyone. But as a general rule, you should use the lawn scarifier when the lawn growth is at its most prolific. So essentially, during the growing season, which is usually either during late spring or early autumn.
If your lawn is in need of extra care and maintenance, then you might want to scarify a few times a year. But in general, you should only ever need to use the lawn scarifier around once every year.
It’s important not to overuse it, as it can be quite harsh on the roots of the grass and the lawn in general, so only use it when necessary!
