The winter season puts every lawn to a tough test. Skilled scarification contributes significantly to regeneration. The right time is just as important as the technical execution. This is how you achieve the optimal care effect for a lush green lawn carpet.
When should you scarify the lawn?
The ideal time to scarify the lawn is in spring, between March and May, when the ground has completely thawed, is slightly moist, the temperatures are between 10-20 degrees Celsius and no further periods of frost are to be expected. Early bloomers in full bloom also indicate the right time.
What is the definition of scarifying?
The term 'scarifying' comes from England, the motherland of the perfect lawn. It is a word combination of 'vertical' for vertical and 'to cut' for cutting. This describes a fundamental care measure in which moss, clover, weeds and thatch are combed out of the lawn. The aim of scarifying is that the grass roots can 'breathe' better, for which they thank you with lush growth.
Skillfully scarifying at the right time of year – this is how it works
During the cold season, snow pressure, frost and constant wetness take a toll on the lawn. After the first mowing in March or April, the dilemma becomes apparent. Instead of a lush green, velvety carpet of grass, a matted, mossy stubble meadow emerges. Now is the ideal time to scarify. This work is carried out either with electrical or petrol-powered devices or with a manually operated rake (€18.00 on Amazon).
On a motor-driven scarifier, several blades rotate about 3 cm apart to score the turf to a depth of 3 to a maximum of 10 mm. This involves pulling out all the greenery that has no place in a perfectly manicured lawn. The scarifying rake works in a similar way, but with a noticeable trimming effect. How to do it right:
- Mow the lawn for the first time when the blades are 6-8 cm high
- Cut the grass area down to 2-4 cm
- Now switch from the lawnmower to the scarifier
- Start with a combing depth of 3 mm
- Only increase the device setting if not all tangles are captured
- Work the lawn once lengthwise and once crosswise
Walk quickly across the lawn without stopping. If a stop is unavoidable, switch off the scarifier immediately. If you choose the manual technique, the rake must not penetrate too deeply into the sod. Otherwise the roots will be damaged. At the end, the area is carefully cleaned of the combed out weeds to prevent mold and rot.
tips: If the scarifier only combs out moss without weeds, you are holding first-class mulching material for the kitchen garden in your hands. Lawn moss is also ideal as an additive for an airy, loose potting soil.
How to recognize the ideal time
Spring is therefore the best time of year to give your lawn a revitalizing start into the new season. However, the time frame is only roughly outlined. In order to determine the ideal time for this central care measure, experienced hobby gardeners pay attention to the following requirements:
- The ground has completely thawed
- Hard frost periods are no longer expected
- The lawn is not dry, but slightly moist
- The weather is dry, with temperatures of 10 to 20 degrees Celsius
The early bloomers provide a visual indication of the ideal time to treat the lawn. When daffodils and other bulbous flowers are in full bloom, the lawn begins to grow more vigorously. Scarification should be completed by May at the latest if the lawn is used intensively. The area needs a few weeks of regeneration, before the child's birthday or the first barbecue party of the summer.
What should you pay attention to for the maximum care effect?
If the lawn is scarified in spring, this is also the right time of year for the supply of nutrients. For the experienced hobby gardener, scarifying and fertilizing are inextricably linked. How to handle the aspects of care professionally:
- The lawn is fertilized every 1-2 weeks before scarifying
- You can choose to apply a long-term fertilizer or fertilize organically
- Watere repeatedly afterwards so that the fertilizer is completely soaked in
Cautious gardeners carry out a pH value test beforehand. If the value is below 6, the lawn is first limed. After a waiting period of around 3 weeks, fertilizer is administered, as the effects of both preparations cancel each other out.
When does autumn scarifying make sense?
An intensively used lawn can certainly be scarified again at the beginning of September. At this point, garden life is coming to an end. In addition, a lawn free of weeds and moss goes into the cold season. Winter moisture can drain away better, minimizing the risk of compaction. Ideally, the grass area then receives winter fertilization with a high potassium content to strengthen its resistance.
tips: Investing in a scarifier for one-time use per year is not worth it. On the other hand, the rental equipment is difficult to obtain from hardware stores given the narrow time window for this maintenance measure. In well-functioning neighborhoods, hobby gardeners create a common device that makes the rounds.