If stubborn weeds spoil the lawn, tackle dandelions, moss and the like with the scarifier. This guide gets to the heart of when and how to properly scarify green areas.
How do you remove weeds from your lawn by scarifying?
To remove weeds in the lawn by scarifying, you should take action in spring or late summer. Mow the lawn, set a scarifier to a cutting depth of 2-3 mm and work the area in a checkerboard pattern. Then remove the thatch and re-sow lawn seeds if necessary.
Best time is in spring
When soil temperatures exceed 10 degrees in March and April, growth in the lawn starts. Now is the best time to use the scarifier to control existing weeds. The weather on the date itself will be dry, ideally with light cloud cover. Another time window for this care opens in late summer between September and October.
Fertilization optimizes regeneration
You should fertilize your lawn one to two weeks before scarifying. This has the advantage that the stressed green area then regenerates more quickly. Then water the lawn thoroughly so that the fertilizer grains are fully utilized.
Alternatively, you can provide your green carpet with all the important nutrients after scarifying. If you have decided on an appointment in autumn, ideally you should administer a potassium-rich lawn fertilizer.
Step by step to a green carpet - How to scarify correctly
Petrol-powered scarifiers (€312.00 on Amazon) can be rented in many hardware stores. Investing in the device is not worth it because it is only used once or twice a year. In well-functioning neighborhoods, a scarifier is sometimes purchased together. How to work with the device correctly:
- Mow the dry lawn at the lowest setting beforehand
- Place the scarifier on the lawn and set the blade roller to a cutting depth of 2 to 3 millimeters
- Switch on the device to quickly scarify the lawn in a checkerboard pattern
- Completely remove the combed out lawn thatch with a rake
- Reseed bare spots with lawn seeds
You can alternatively scarify a small lawn area of a few square meters by hand. Hand scarifiers are equipped with a slightly oscillating blade roller that you pull through the grass. Of course, manually scarifying requires a lot of effort.
Tip
Light electric scarifiers sometimes do not capture the turf, even though they are set correctly. The cause is uncontrolled “hopping” on hard surfaces. If you weigh down the device with a small sandbag, the problem will be solved in no time.
