Scarifying the lawn correctly: Instructions in 9 steps

Should the local one race appear well-groomed and grow healthy in a lush green, regular pruning is not enough. Scarifying is one of the maintenance measures that should be carried out every year. You can get rid of weeds and felt-like compaction quickly. You can find out everything you should know about scarifying at Plantopedia, including scarifying instructions.

Scarifying

Scarifying is one of the common maintenance measures for every lawn. Depending on the device, what you use for scarifying, this lawn care can be carried out with more or less effort. In any case, it is important to proceed precisely. For this reason, lawn experts have created step-by-step instructions for you and summarized everything you need to know about this lawn care.

definition

In the Scarifying it is a kind of "ventilation" of the lawn. The term comes from English and is composed of two of the two words "vertical" and "cut". In German this translates as "vertical" and "cut". The term “verticulating” is also widespread. This means scarifying, but the word came about by chance and is wrong! This special method for lawn care was invented in 1955 by the American Thomas Mascaro. The first scarifier model can be viewed in a museum in the USA.

The principle of operation is based on scratching the turf. The scarifying is not to be confused with the Aeration. With this technique, the soil is loosened in order to aerate the roots of the lawn. Scarifying is used to aerate the lawn. In addition, matting is prevented or eliminated. Dead plant parts as well as some weeds such as moss can be removed with this method.

Scarifier

Various device designs are available for scarifying. They all work on the same principle. A roller / roller is installed transversely in the device. There are staggered tapered rakes on this. If the device is set in motion or put into operation, the axis-like role begins to turn and the hooks reach vertically through the lawn a few millimeters deep to just below the Surface of the earth.

As a rule, the depth of the scoring can be regulated by adjusting the height of the wheels. In some cases the rake roller is adjustable in height. Tangles and weeds stay with mechanical devices on the lawn. Electric, motor-driven scarifying devices throw the loosened lawn material to the rear. Depending on the device model, it is collected in a collecting bag.

Petrol scarifier

Scarifying devices that are equipped with a petrol engine are particularly suitable for angled and / or large lawns. Their advantage is that they can be put into operation independently of a power socket. There is no cable in the way, no extension cords are required and you don't have to flip the power cord. As a rule, they are more powerful than electric motors. This is particularly noticeable on very dry soils, where they can easily be found in hard soil can grip, while most other models are no longer referred to as a scoring can. Disadvantages compared to other models are the higher weight and the greater care required.

In terms of price, with a purchase price between 250 and 500 euros, they are significantly higher than other modes of operation.

Electric motors

Scarifiers with an electric motor are lawn machines that are ideal for lawns of a few 100 square meters. In terms of weight, they are roughly similar to that of an electric lawnmower and are therefore noticeably lighter than those with a petrol engine. In terms of functionality, they are in no way inferior to them. Only on very hard floors do they usually show poor cutting results. Electric models are available for 100 euros.

TIP: With a sand or cement bag on the scarifier, for example, you can weigh it down. As a result, it digs deep enough into the earth even in dry soil.

Hand scarifier

The cheapest are simple hand-held devices for scarifying. It is sufficient for smaller lawns, although scarifying requires strength and stamina. Bargain hunters get their money's worth with it, because with this device you save electricity and petrol. Furthermore, the hand-held device is environmentally friendly. It is pushed in the direction of travel by hand on the handlebar. As a rule, they are comparatively very light and have small dimensions, similar to a fertilizer trolley. In this way, these versions can easily and space-savingly find a parking space even in the smallest of spaces in garden houses or garages. You should expect around 25 to 30 euros for the purchase price.

Rent a device

Since lawn scarification should not be carried out often like lawn cutting, you can save the purchase price as well as any maintenance costs and rent a scarifier. As a rule, these rental devices are offered in hardware stores. Occasionally they are also available for rent in specialist garden shops. In the long term, however, the rental costs will sooner or later exceed the purchase price. For this reason, we only recommend renting scarifiers if, for example, you have to maintain a lawn only for a short time due to your work activity and changing places of residence to have. Even if you place more emphasis on wild growth and lawn ventilation should only be carried out every few years when the lawn threatens to perish, a rental device could be worthwhile.

Best time

The best time to cultivate the lawn with scarifiers is around the middle of April in spring. Here the lawn slowly begins to grow and the high season begins, especially for moss. In addition, however, you can scarify again at the end of August / beginning of September. Especially when the summer was sunny and humid, a lot of weeds have certainly spread. In addition, the sun and rain ensure rapid and dense growth. The risk of matting on the lawn is greatest after summer.

Young lawn

You should not scarify freshly sown lawns for the first two to three years. Here you run the risk of damaging the sensitive sward and / or pulling out fresh grass because the roots have not yet set themselves firmly enough.

Weather conditions

You should not scarify a lawn in the rain or immediately after a heavy rain shower. Even though the ground is then softened and the rakes of the scarifying rollers can easily reach into it, there is a risk of turf damage. There should also be no dew, which makes scarifying early in the morning not advisable.

Heavy petrol scarifiers in particular also leave unsightly tracks on lawns that are too wet. The grass is pressed onto the ground and it is difficult to cultivate the lawn evenly without leaving out any areas. In particular, matting is best removed from dry grass more easily. The weather conditions shouldn't be too dry either, because otherwise the rakes might not dig deep enough into the earth. In this case, light watering with a lawn sprinkler or garden hose the day before is advisable.

Instructions for scarifying

Proper scarifying is required for best results. The instructions explain each step of the procedure.

• Before scarifying, cut the lawn to a height of two to four centimeters
• Set the height of the wheels or axle of the scarifier to a scoring depth of around three centimeters
• Push the device into the departure position and start it if necessary
• start at an outer end of the lane and work your way to the inner lanes
• the device is driven / pushed straight forward in front of the body
• with the next train, the journey is always in the opposite direction to the previous train
• If the lawn is very matted, scarify it twice in a row
• scarify across the already worked lawn (pattern like a chess board)
• Re-sow bare ground with lawn seeds

Pre- and post-treatment

Fertilize

It is advisable to fertilize the lawn about three to four weeks before scarifying. In this way, it is optimally supplied with nutrients and strengthened overall. The latter is advantageous because scarifying is a strain for lawns. With a previous fertilization you prepare the lawn optimally so that it can then continue to grow vigorously. Fertilization is advisable, especially with very compacted grass and if the last scarifying was two or more years ago.

If you use a fertilizer with a weed killer, a lot of the lawn will have dried up / dead by the time it was scarified. The remaining parts of the plant can then be pulled straight out of the lawn.

Lawn clippings

In theory, mowing the lawn just before the lawn is aerated is sufficient. To encourage growth after scarifying, around ten days after fertilizing and then after one Waiting time of another two weeks, cut a second time before the scarifier is used.

Water

After scarifying on dry ground, you should water the tilled lawn area well. Make sure, however, that no standing water forms. Thanks to the newly acquired lawn ventilation and the scratched ground, water now penetrates the soil better. If this is then sufficiently saturated, the watering must be stopped in order to avoid overwatering.

Lawn protection

After you've scarified, give your lawn a little rest for at least three weeks. He needs this time to regenerate. You should avoid mowing the lawn or playing football during the rest period.