3 Simple Steps to Scarifying Your Lawn
Scarifying or scarification, which also goes by the name dethatching, is the process of removing the thick organic layer of material that can sometimes sit between the soil and your grass.
While a small amount of surface thatch is acceptable, a significant amount can prevent water and air from reaching the soil. This may then lead to lawn disease and an overall sad-looking lawn.
Simply follow these steps below if you believe scarifying or dethatching is the best way to give your lawn a new lease on life. You’d be surprised at how easy it can be.
What Is Thatch?
Before we get into the simple steps to scarifying your lawn, it’s worthwhile to understand what thatch is. Most species other than pure ryegrass will require scarifying or dethatching at some stage.
When parent grass plants die to be replaced by younger plants, the growing part of the grass can be slow to decay. Since they don’t rot into the soil as a typical plant would, the layers of dead parent grass build up in layers.
The less often you dethatch your lawn, the more thatch you will need to remove. Try to avoid getting a layer of thatch any thicker than 15mm, but keep around 5mm for soil insulation.
When to Scarify?
When you know how beneficial the scarifying process can be, you might be chomping at the bit to get stuck in. Before you do, it’s worthwhile knowing when the best time to scarify is. The more intensive the task, the more the timing matters.
Consider leaving a large dethatching job until around autumn. As the lawn will be much thinner in places, summer heat may damage your grass. By dethatching in summer, you may also increase the chances of weed seeds from your dethatching efforts taking hold where you don’t want them.
You may also scarify in spring, but there is an increased chance of weed growth in this season, as well. The rules are slightly different for homeowners looking to scarify their lawns in a shady area. It’s best not to dethatch in autumn since the shade and leaf litter may reduce your grass health. In shaded areas, wait until spring.
Step 1: Prepare the Lawn for Dethatching
Before you get stuck in scarifying, make sure you spend a couple of weeks preparing your lawns for an experience that may shock it. To rake successfully with scarifying tools, you will need to ensure the grass is dry and short.
Start mowing the lawn shorter and shorter over a fortnight. This achieves two things: reducing the risk of shock and allowing air to access the soil and dry the grass quicker. However, you don’t want the ground itself to be too dry as the lawn needs a sound foundation from which to grow once you have scarified it.
During this process, you may notice that moss is present. Fortunately, scarifying lawn to remove moss is perfectly safe.
Step 2: Scarify Your Lawn
With the prep work complete, you can now get scarifying underway. For this task, you can use a manual wheeled scarifier or opt for a petrol-powered one. With whichever tool or machine you use, run over your lawn in one direction to remove around one centimetre of thatch. You can then get rid of debris with a leaf blower or rake.
After that initial run, work at a right angle to your first pass and lower the blades slightly. You may notice that the thatch will be looser. Two or three passes should be enough to get rid of as much thatch as you need.
Step 3: Learn How to Revive a Lawn After Scarifying
It’s only natural to feel a bit shocked when you see how thin and unhealthy your lawn looks after dethatching. But don’t worry, this is only temporary!
Purchase lawn seed and over sow the lawn where you notice extreme patchiness. Fertilising the lawn with high potassium fertiliser may also be helpful. Fertiliser helps to protect against disease and give your grass a quick health boost.
Finally, don’t underestimate the value of watering. An irrigation system can help provide a consistent amount of water, but regular watering while your grass grows can be all it takes to have your lawn looking beautiful once more.
Start Looking After Your Lawn
Our grass can need a helping hand from time to time. It might be growing unevenly, struggling to grow, or is simply not as attractive as it could be. Dethatching is an excellent place to start, and it’s achievable in just three easy steps.
However, if you’re worried about the health of your lawn, or you simply don’t have time to make sure it’s at its best, consult the lawn care experts who understand grass the best. You may be surprised at how quickly your grass becomes the picture of perfection.