When is the best time?

What is the concept of scarifying?

The term scarifying was coined in England, the motherland of flawless lawns. The term contains the English words "vertical" for vertical and "to cut" for cutting. However, the process was developed in 1955 in the USA by Thomas Mascaro, whose inventions can still be admired at Penn State University to this day.

With this maintenance measure, the Sward scored with the help of a rotating knife roller. Scarifier(€ 98.00 at Amazon *) are available with an electric or gasoline engine as well as Hand-held device. The primary aim of scarifying is to remove moss and thatch in order to better supply the noble grass with air and light. Furthermore, the lawn becomes more permeable, which effectively prevents damaging waterlogging and soil compaction.

When is the best time?

The ideal time window is open from April to May. In this phase, growth begins so that the lawn can then regenerate quickly. This aspect is of the highest relevance for the right choice of date, because scarifying is an extreme strain for every lawn area. Anyone who reaches for the scarifier in the middle of the warm, dry summer time struggles for many weeks with a plucked green area that only slowly closes into a green carpet. How to determine the optimal time:

• The floor temperature is continuously above 10 degrees Celsius
• Delayed ground frosts are no longer to be expected
• It didn't do the lecture rained
• The lawn is not completely dry

Another time window opens in autumn to clear a moss-covered lawn of thatch. Between the beginning of September and mid-October there is nothing to prevent the green area from being scarified for the first time or a second time. The work should be done by the end of October at the latest, because otherwise the time for regeneration is too short.

Should the lawn be prepared?

With careful preparation, you can ensure in advance that your lawn recovers quickly after scarifying. The following process has proven itself excellently in professional care:

• Mow the lawn twice after the winter break
• Fertilize the lawn 10 to 14 days before scarifying
• Repeatedly irrigate the green area so that the fertilizer is completely absorbed

The previous supply of nutrients stimulates the growth of the lawn grasses so that they are well equipped for the subsequent procedure.

Scarifying properly - how does it work?

Scarifying devices are so rarely used in the home garden that the purchase does not pay for itself. Garden centers and hardware stores rent the machines at a low daily rate and often provide a trailer for transport. The following instructions summarize the correct sequence of scarifying work:

• Mow the lawn beforehand at the lowest possible level
• The scarifier to adjust to a cutting depth of 2 to a maximum of 5 mm
• Pace the green area quickly with the device running
• Scarify first lengthways and then crossways

After the first run, please check whether you have correctly adjusted the scarifier. Moss and weeds should be combed out without pulling healthy lawn grass out of the ground. In the end, there is a thick layer of clippings on the lawn. With a Rake sweep the combed out lawn thatch thoroughly. Remove the last residue with the lawn mower.

Re-sowing - fine-tuning for the scarified lawn

Correctly scarified lawn gives off a disheveled appearance. Areas heavily infested with moss and weeds can be completely bare. This is not a cause for displeasure, but the best opportunity for overseeding. You can choose to use the rest Lawn seeds the original sowing or you can use seed mixtures for lawn repair. How to do it right:

• The best time is immediately after scarifying
• Lawn seeds in one Gritter Pour in and mix by hand
• Plant the seeds without overlapping
• Roll the surface for good ground contact

Alternatively, you can scatter lawn seeds by hand. Please eject the seeds by first pacing the lawn lengthways and then crossways. after the Lawn roller has established the ground connection of the seeds, irrigate the fresh seedbed thoroughly.

For the next 2 to 3 weeks, sprinkle the re-sown lawn every day, unless it is raining. When the seedlings and remaining lawn grasses have reached a height of 8 to 10 cm, they are mowed for the first time.