scarifying your lawn

Why: To remove a heavy layer of thatch (i.e. the remains of dead grass and moss) that forms a cover of mulch over your lawn, stifling emerging grass. To allow air to reach the soil. Lawns with only a thin layer of thatch will not need treatment, this thinner layer actually helps to conserve moisture and help the lawn absorb hard wear.

When: Mid-Spring or Autumn are both good times to scarify.

How: Either you can borrow or hire a scarifying machine, or you can scarify your lawn by hand using a spring-tined rake. Draw the rake over the lawn in short sweeps, digging the tines into the top level of the soil.

Work in one direction across the lawn and then again at right angles to your initial sweep. Once you have completed the scarifying process, mow the lawn, collecting the clippings, to remove the thatch and even up its appearance.

Scarifying machines are essential for larger lawns (unless you feel you need the work-out!) and they will usually pick up the thatch for you. Mow after scarifying to even the appearance of the lawn, collecting the clippings.

If you have a great deal of moss in the lawn, you may wish to consider applying a moss killer If you garden organically and have a problem with moss, this usually results from inadequate sun or poor drainage. Consider the viability of lawns in shaded or damp ground.