How to scarify and fertilise your lawn
Scarifying and fertilising your lawn is an important part of the upkeep of your garden. If done correctly, you can feast your eyes on an lush and healthy lawn throughout the whole year. But if you don’t take proper care of your lawn, moss and dry patches may replace your once green grass. That is something you most definitely want to avoid. That’s why we want to help you with our tips & tricks on fertilising and scarifying your lawn.
Why should I scarify my lawn?
Before we answer the how to scarify a lawn, let’s take a step back and focus on the why. In almost every lawn, a layer of thatch begins to form from dead grass-stalks. Moss may start to grow on top of the thatch layer. Grass needs sufficient air, light and water to grow. An overly thick thatch and moss layer retains most of the needed nutrients and stops them from reaching the grass’ roots. This causes the grass to die and causes brown patches. To prevent this from happening, you need to scarify your lawn. Scarifying removes the thatch and moss layer. Afterwards, you can easily rake the remnants away.
When should I scarify and fertilise my lawn?
The best moment to scarify is after a rain shower, when your lawn is wet. Has it been dry for a while? In that case, it is best to spray your lawn thoroughly. The ideal months to scarify are April and May. Does your lawn get plenty of sunlight throughout the whole year or is it growing on sandy soil? Then it suffices to scarify it once a year. Is your garden shadowy and on clay or peat soil? Then you might have more moss in your lawn, as it flourishes under those conditions. You will need to scarify and fertilise it a second time, preferably in October. This will help your lawn survive a cold and wet winter, without getting damaged.
How to scarify correctly
There are two ways to scarify your lawn:
- By hand: this method is only suitable for very small lawn patches. You will need to move over your lawn on hands and knees and cut through the thatch layer with a knife. You can also use a designated scarifying rake, so you can work more ergonomically. But it still remains a time and energy consuming method.
- With a lawn scarifier: this is the most efficient method. The scarifier does all the work for you, cutting through the thatch and moss layer effortlessly. The only thing you need to do, is to set the right cutting depth and push it over yourlawn, just like a lawn mower.
The best way to move is in two directions: first in the length and after that in the width. To make the task as easy as possible, we recommend walking in straight lines. Because you cross every spot twice, the moss and thatch will be loosened perfectly. The only thing left to do, is to rake everything together and remove it from your garden. We recommend raking in two directions as well. This ensures the best results.
Pamper your lawn after scarifying
Have you scarified your lawn thoroughly? Then it may not be the prettiest sight, with a lot of bare spots. This can be resolved by sowing new seeds or replace the bare patches with a new turf. Because your lawn needs to recover, you should fertilise it lightly. The fertiliser should be distributed evenly. This is also an ideal moment to check if your lawn gets plenty of sunlight. Is it still a breeding ground for moss, despite getting more than enough sun? Then you should measure its pH value. If it is too high, you can easily resolve that issue by adding calcium or iron sulphate to your soil.
Do you want to scarify and fertilise your lawn properly? Download our cheat sheet. Your lawn will be as lush as never before.