What is it?

Scarifying is a process perhaps best described as a mechanical raking of the lawn; its primary purpose is to remove thatch from the lawn although it has associated benefits as well. The machine used has a series of sharp tungsten blades that rotate at high speed and cut into the turf in a vertical manor. The depth can be adjusted to remove as much or as little as required. This machine and process should not be confused with the typical machine available on the domestic market, which is more of a lawn rake, has much less power and limited depth penetration.

Why does my lawn need scarifying?

A lawn that has developed a large amount of thatch or moss needs to be scarified to remove as much of this material as possible allowing the grass space to grow. Scarifying should be carried out at a time when the grass is growing actively to allow it to recover from this rigorous process, usually autumn through to spring time. It is advisable; although not essential to carry out scarifying before a fertiliser treatment as this will greatly speed the rate of recovery from the process.

How often does my lawn need scarifying?

All lawns are different in their characteristics and it is therefore very difficult to predict how often to scarify a lawn. There are a number of factors that will affect the frequency required. If a lawn contains large amounts of thatch and / or moss it may need a number of treatments to reduce the level to be manageable. Different grass types tend to produce more thatch than others and therefore need scarifying more frequently. As a general rule Greensleeves advise that a lawn should be scarified between every 1 and 3 years but for specific advice please discuss with your lawn manager who will be able to look at your individual circumstances. Also view the Thatch page.