Scarifying and patch magic.

Discussion in 'Lawns' started by hoofy, Sep 5, 2018.

  1. hoofy

    hoofy Gardener

    Joined:
    Sep 4, 2018
    Messages:
    293
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Lancashire
    Ratings:
    +224
    I'm hoping the bloke who does the job should know his game, he's been doing it for almost 20 years, lawn maintenance being his bread and butter, but he also cuts hedges and does a bit of landscaping.

    I do have high hopes for the lawn as it should be perfect ground for a good result. The lawn has a slight slope and doesn't suffer from water logging, no matter how hard it rains. It gets decent sun and no heavy traffic from animals or children.

    I've invested in a good mower, I bought it second hand, but it's a thousand pound machine when new.

    My only worry is my busy time at work is when the weather is good, so when the lawn needs me most, so will my customers. I do plan on making the time though, even if I have to be out mowing at 9PM.
     
    • Like Like x 2
    • hoofy

      hoofy Gardener

      Joined:
      Sep 4, 2018
      Messages:
      293
      Gender:
      Male
      Location:
      Lancashire
      Ratings:
      +224
      The bloke who's meant to be scarifying my lawn is dragging his feet. Probably too busy with his regular customers.

      I'm beginning to wonder if I should just take it on myself. So I watched the lawnsmith video on scarifying and he recommends a hand pushed greenkey scarifier. Will this do a good enough job? Will it be alright for an 80m2 lawn?
       
    • Loofah

      Loofah Admin Staff Member

      Joined:
      Feb 20, 2008
      Messages:
      12,384
      Gender:
      Male
      Location:
      Guildford
      Ratings:
      +21,138
      You could use a spring tine rake
       
      • Like Like x 1
      • Verdun

        Verdun Passionate gardener

        Joined:
        Oct 16, 2012
        Messages:
        7,475
        Gender:
        Male
        Location:
        West Cornwall
        Ratings:
        +17,486
        Yes hoofy, that scarifier will do the trick and save you money. It really isnt a skilled job.
        A lawn rake does just as good a job but it is harder....good exercise though and a task I will be undertaking soon. :)
         
        • Like Like x 1
        • HarryS

          HarryS Eternally Optimistic Gardener

          Joined:
          Aug 28, 2010
          Messages:
          8,906
          Gender:
          Male
          Occupation:
          Retired
          Location:
          Wigan
          Ratings:
          +16,246
          • Like Like x 1
          • Agree Agree x 1
          • hoofy

            hoofy Gardener

            Joined:
            Sep 4, 2018
            Messages:
            293
            Gender:
            Male
            Location:
            Lancashire
            Ratings:
            +224
            I have decided to save my back but after looking at online reviews I've decided to buy a bosch 1100 verticutter.

            Owning one yourself means you can plan other jobs with one eye on the weather. Relying on someone else means I could be waiting for ages and then sowing new seed might not be possible.

            So the plan in now to scarify next weekend and then sow the new seed as per the instructions in the lawnsmith video posted earlier in the thread.

            Could I sow the new seed as soon as I've scarified? Same day, next day?
             
          • HarryS

            HarryS Eternally Optimistic Gardener

            Joined:
            Aug 28, 2010
            Messages:
            8,906
            Gender:
            Male
            Occupation:
            Retired
            Location:
            Wigan
            Ratings:
            +16,246
            That looks like a good bit of kit Hoofy :blue thumb: Just start off on a low setting first to get used to it . Go up and down the lawn once , then across at 90 degrees . You will produce a mind boggling amount of grass debris, the grass box fills every run ! A little concerning at first go .
            You can reseed directly after you have cleared the lawn of debris ( I run the lawnmower over it after scarifying ) I would also give a light top soil dressing over the seed
             
            • Like Like x 1
            • hoofy

              hoofy Gardener

              Joined:
              Sep 4, 2018
              Messages:
              293
              Gender:
              Male
              Location:
              Lancashire
              Ratings:
              +224
              I was just reading up about top dressing.

              I really have got the bug. From no interest a few months ago to scarifying, over seeding and top dressing.:dbgrtmb:

              With the scarifying, do I keep at it until no more is coming out, or just do a couple of runs over the lawn?
               
            • Verdun

              Verdun Passionate gardener

              Joined:
              Oct 16, 2012
              Messages:
              7,475
              Gender:
              Male
              Location:
              West Cornwall
              Ratings:
              +17,486
              No to scarifying "until no more comes out"......as with everything its moderation.
              The "bug" about top dressing etc........yep, it is certainly addctive to maintain a nice lawn. Top dressing helps maintain levels and protects roots against extreme heat and cold. Lawns always look better a couple of weeks after top dressing. :)
              Yes, reseed after scarifying :)
               
              • Like Like x 1
              • Agree Agree x 1
              • HarryS

                HarryS Eternally Optimistic Gardener

                Joined:
                Aug 28, 2010
                Messages:
                8,906
                Gender:
                Male
                Occupation:
                Retired
                Location:
                Wigan
                Ratings:
                +16,246
                Up and down once , then possibly across at 90 degrees to the first cuts . Just go easy at first . Photo below shows typical amount of debris after one pass.

                lawn-renovation-newtownabbey..jpg
                 
                • Like Like x 1
                • hoofy

                  hoofy Gardener

                  Joined:
                  Sep 4, 2018
                  Messages:
                  293
                  Gender:
                  Male
                  Location:
                  Lancashire
                  Ratings:
                  +224
                  Looks great fun Harry. I love a job where you can see instant results.
                   
                  • Friendly Friendly x 1
                  • Verdun

                    Verdun Passionate gardener

                    Joined:
                    Oct 16, 2012
                    Messages:
                    7,475
                    Gender:
                    Male
                    Location:
                    West Cornwall
                    Ratings:
                    +17,486
                    Ha ha, the "instant" result will disturb you hoofy. :gaah:
                    Looks like a bombsite at first:sad:
                     
                    • Funny Funny x 1
                    • hoofy

                      hoofy Gardener

                      Joined:
                      Sep 4, 2018
                      Messages:
                      293
                      Gender:
                      Male
                      Location:
                      Lancashire
                      Ratings:
                      +224
                      I'm ready for the bombsite. Reading the posts and watching videos has prepared me for it.

                      I think I'd be more disturbed if it looks no different than when I started.
                       
                    • hoofy

                      hoofy Gardener

                      Joined:
                      Sep 4, 2018
                      Messages:
                      293
                      Gender:
                      Male
                      Location:
                      Lancashire
                      Ratings:
                      +224
                      I'm looking to do all the scarifying, over seeding etc next weekend but I still need to buy the top dressing. Where should I buy it from? I have transport and I have most of the big retailers fairly close to where I live.
                       
                    • Liz the pot

                      Liz the pot Total Gardener

                      Joined:
                      Jul 1, 2015
                      Messages:
                      1,042
                      Gender:
                      Male
                      Ratings:
                      +1,259
                      Sorry to hear your chap is not on the ball.
                      Have you purchased the Bosch one already?
                      There’s a bit more skill needed that some think as it’s common to see lawns ripped up and needing to be seeded where it should have been a nice easy job.
                      There are several layers of thatch but you don’t want to try and remove it all, thatch is important to the lawn.
                      The idea is to remove a percentage, open the soil up to allow air movement and to promote growth.
                      If your lawns in good shape I normally take several plugs to check on thatch but commonly it’s no harm to run a scarifier over the area.
                      I’m going to guess they are fixed blades on the Bosch so you don’t want to hit any objects under the lawn and you don’t want to go deep as it simply does not have the power to maintain blade speed due to the friction.
                      If you have not purchased it you could hire one, they normally come with free floating blades so no cutting in I’m afraid.
                      Here’s a lawn I scarified a while back and one from my companions lawn when I first met her.

                      132BFDD6-58CB-455A-B8B4-939FCA4507C4.jpeg

                      11C4A519-C6F1-402F-9095-58EAD6450160.jpeg

                      Notice how clean they are, both are in fairly good shape and recovered very quickly from the mechanical process.
                      I do have an advantage of having a good machine but also it’s knowing not to push hard and thus creating issues that were not there.

                      If you have gone for the Bosch set it up so the first run has the blades just rubbing the surface, it’s important the machine have a variable height adjustment so you can adjust to the best for the job.
                      If you need to cut in you would be best not to try any deeper than 5mm or else you will find the machine will struggle and it then churns the soil and rips out rather than a clean slice.

                      Don’t forget your lawn needs thatch but it also needs to be removed so it’s a balancing act. Add the fact that different grass produces thatch at different rates and add fertilisers into it, it’s why the best kept lawns require constant care to keep them nice.
                       
                      • Informative Informative x 2
                      • Like Like x 1
                      Loading...

                      Share This Page

                      1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
                        By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
                        Dismiss Notice