This is the time many of us lawn lovers think about having their lawn scarified. Scarifying is a very rigorous and invasive process, and very different to raking the lawn. A scarification machine will remove a substantial amount of thatch and moss from your lawn. The benefit of this process will be a much improved lawn both in terms of look and health, however, there is a short term price to pay in that the lawn may not look as good as you thought it would - it might even look quite rough. The good news is that it will recover. The speed of this recovery mostly depends on the climate as this affects the rate of growth; however there are some things that you can do to make sure your lawn will recover as quickly as possible: It is good practice to mow the lawn after Scarifying; this removes any tufts, levels off the grass and may lift off a little more loose moss and thatch. Once spring comes do not wait until the whole lawn is recovered before mowing. Regular, weekly mowing encourages grass to grow and produce new shoots. If your lawn has an uneven surface there may be a few bare areas in the high spots. It would be beneficial to overseed these areas to give them a boost. Should we experience a very warm and dry spring it its important not to let the surface of the lawn become dry and crusty. This crust will stop new shoots coming through and could act as a barrier to rain reaching the root zone. This can seriously impede the lawns recovery. Areas of lawn not showing any signs of recovery or deteriorating could indicate the presence of Leatherjackets, a grub which feeds off grass.
That is a lot of work! But it's definately worth it. An easier way is to borrow a Shetland pony and let it wander about on your lawn for a week or two. It cuts grass, fertilizes and crushes moss. Our lawn looked great for a couple of years after such a treatment.
Now you tell me Droopy. I could have done with a pony not too long ago. Thanks for the great tips Eileen. I will apply them pronto since my lawn is struggling a bit after the dethatching.
And would the cost be for someone who does not practice any gardening and pays to have it done? How many hours average are necessary to accomplish the task?
Very useful guide, thanks Eileen. It is very time consuming but it is really useful if you need to thing out and remove any thatch or moss that has appeared. It is a good way of ensuring your lawn is kept in a better condition and has the ability to last longer.
