Scarifying lawns ?

I have been trying to work this one out.. But is it necessary ? If so how is the best way to do it and when is the best time to do it.

Looking around o the net I saw a couple of examples where it was done by machine and they seem to have completely ruined the lawn ! Honest it looked absolutely awful !

I spent quite some time and effort feeding and spraying the weeds last year on what was a fairly poor lawn. The blisters have only just faded on my hands from aerating with a fork ! (Everyone say Ahhh for Charlies poor dannies)

Just this weekend I mowed for the first time this year, I was careful to cut just a wee bit off the top but this has revealed what appears to be moss or whatever its called ? If I get a rake I can drag some of it out but hell does it look rough ! My OCD meant I stopped. Well that and the fear of ruining my lawn ..

Im 58 now and things like this are becoming very important Il have you know

A wee pic of my lawn after much fussing last year. My daughter actually bought me a hat with a picture of a bloke fussing over a lawn and the moniker "Lawn Ranger" on it !


Thanks in advance for not taking the Michael.....

 

Your lawn looks OK from this photo . I would only scarify if the lawn is struggling . I would scarify from mid April or the back end of September . It really does perk the lawn up , although I only lightly scarify it.

 

Your lawn looks lovely whilst mine looks dire needing scarified twice a year after applying moss killer.Lidl do a good scarifier that does a good job and isnt ott.Drainage and shade seem to cause most problems.Solve these issues and you have it sorted out.

 

Please bear in mind that picture as mentioned above was taken last year after much feeding and aerating ..

Thanks !

 

Scarifying does makes it look awful but it soon recovers. Ours was left almost bare when we did it last September but has now almost fully regrown, and that's before the weather has properly warmed up. It's got no moss or thatch in it now.

 

Thanks Charlie.

Charlie ..

 

I would recommend scarifying your lawn. You can see quite abit of moss it in. Before scarifying though, spray some ferrous sulphate or sulphate of iron on it to kill the moss. You will see brown and black patches, this is normal. About 2 weeks after use an electric or petrol scarifyer( petrol do better jobs and are safer). Make sure you go both ways with the scarifyer and overlap half each stripe. Your lawn will look in a bad state at this point but not to worry. The same day or day after, preferably when it rains feed your lawn with a ferterliser. I would recomment a 14-4-4 feed as it has some nitrogen in it. Dont mow it for a week to let the feed work and then keep a tight cut on it for the first cut. Again spray the lawn with the ferrous sulphate which will both kill and moss left and make your grass greener. After another week feed your lawn again with the fertiliser and leave 1 week to mow. Within 4 weeks your lawn will look green and full. Also make sure you mow once a week for first 2 months. Dont let the grass get too long or your mower will rip it.

 

All that sounds really useful advise. Mine has had it's first cut and moss treatment and I may just follow your method in the weeks to come. Thank you.

 

Same here Falcon , sounds like a good procedure

 

@Charlie996 what are you scarifying your lawn with? I use a spring tine rake which you can be more delicate and particular with I find.

 

Now that is what you call a lawn !

 

These lawns are in wigan. Im no expert, but take pride in taking care of them. There is no hard work involved

 

I thought it looked familiar , it's my back lawn !

 

I mean you could save petrol and do it by hand. Not a lawn thats what I call a field. Very nice and good advice.