Scarifying Tips and Advice Article - What do you think? - Forum

Hello everybody,

I recently wrote the article below about scarifying to help people out. It would be great to get some extra tips and advice from the pros, so please let me know what you think or if you do anything differently! I've tried to bullet point it for easy reading.

Thanks :)

- Acacia Groundcare

Scarification, Scarifying and Scarifiers - What, When, Where, How and Why

Scarifying is a process used on grass covered areas to remove dead grass, moss and general debris that builds up over time.

If the thatch layer builds to over 1cm then drainage, aeration and nutrient or fertiliser dispersion can be a problem, preventing healthy growth and look of the lawn. Toadstool and mushroom growth can be a key indicator that scarification is required.

Why Scarify?

Remove thatch.
Improve aeration & exchange of oxygenated air.
Improve drainage and nutrient uptake.
Maintain a healthy and attractive lawn.

When to Scarify

Spring: light scarification to prevent ground damage and promote healthy growth through the summer months.
Autumn: heavier scarification to remove thatch ready for winter - be careful as this can cause damage if the area is shady or under trees as growth is prevented by lack of light/nutrients.
Scarification should be completed on a warm, dry day with short, cut grass.
Grass should not be scarified if overly wet or very dry as these prevent effective scarification.

How to Scarify

Scarification can be achieved using a variety of machines and tools dependant on the size of the area and density and quantity of thatch present.

Apply moss killer a fortnight before to ensure easy, complete removal*
A spring-tine rake can be used for light scarification and gentle removal in a smaller area
Larger areas or heavier thatch removal require a powered scarifier – a self-propelled petrol scarifyer prevents manually pushing up and down.
Set height of cut - fully extended blades remove thatch and improve aeration, with slitting motion cutting grass roots (stolons) encouraging deep root growth and thicker lawn coverage.
Less extended blades will only remove thatch.
Scarification is best achieved with a few runs up and down, increasing the depth of scarification as you go as well as changing direction with each run to catch all thatch.

*Moss Removal Advice

Moss killer is usually chemical based, with the most common being Sulphate of Iron (Ferrous Sulphate). Be careful - over spreading of Ferrous Sulphate can blacken and kill grass as well.

The treatment used should be based on the type and cause of moss growth (e.g upright mosses such as Polytrichum caused by acidic conditions require alkaline or lime fertilisers).

Soluble Iron will combat large areas when sprayed little and often.

Scarifiers for Hire from Acacia Groundcare

Acacia Groundcare Equipment Rental have a variety of powered scarification machines available for hire, including the Camon lawn scarifier, the Sisis Rotorake and the Graden Verticut, each suitable for different needs and outcomes.

The Camon Lawn Scarifier is a light collecting scarifier, with an optional bag on the back to gather thatch for composting. Generally scarifiers deposit thatch back onto the lawn to recycle nutrients but this can leave a messy finish or uneven surface. Collecting is often more suitable on sports areas including cricket and golf, however mowing will remove deposits too.

The Sisis Rotorake operates with a slitting motion that cuts deeper slices into the ground through the grass roots to promote thicker growth. The rotorake partially aerates and removes thatch from the lawn, allowing for quicker overall maintenance. The height of cut alters the effect on thatch - shallower cut means more thatch, deeper means more aeration.

Finally the Graden GS04 Verticut is an aggressive scarifier which uses a verticutting, or vertical mowing, motion with much finer blades which are more densely packed. The verticutter removes thatch, ‘prunes’ grass and increases turf density, and is ideal for a professional lawn finish such as a bowling green.

Scarification: Lawn Aftercare