How to Scarify a Lawn

• Lawn mower
• Powered or manual scarifier
• Wheelbarrow
• Rake

Scarifying your lawn doesn't involve too many steps. However, it's labour-intensive, even more so when using a manual scarifier.

The ground should be dry, as scarifying when wet can damage your lawn. However, avoid scarifying in prolonged heat waves or drought conditions, such as mid-summer, when the lawn is already under stress.

To effectively scarify your lawn, it is important to first mow your lawn short. The grass should be around 2-4 cm tall. Using the second lowest setting on most standard rotary mowers should suffice. However, if the grass has grown excessively long, it's better to start with a higher setting and then gradually lower it the following week.

Cutting more than one-third of the grass blade's total height in a single mow can stress the plants, especially when combined with scarification.

Remember to collect the grass clippings as you mow to keep the area clean and tidy.

You can scarify your lawn using a manual scarifier (or spring-tine rake) or a powered scarifier. However, it's worth noting that manual lawn scarification is a physically demanding task, particularly for larger areas where powered scarifiers are typically essential.

The depth at which you need to scarify depends on factors such as soil compaction and the level of thatch buildup. A depth of 5mm is usually a good starting point, adjusting as necessary.

Operating a powered scarifier is relatively straightforward. Most are self-propelled, with the only adjustment required being the depth of the blades, done similarly to how you would adjust the height of a lawn mower.

Manual scarifiers will require a bit more effort on your part. You will need to keep control of how deep you penetrate the soil while using a back-and-forth "raking" motion to lift the thatch from the ground. A spring-tine rake can be used in the same fashion and can be effective for smaller areas. However, they will become blocked with thatch more frequently than a purpose-built manual scarifier.

Go over your lawn back and forth lengthwise with the scarifier, overlapping as you change direction. Once you've completed this pass, make a subsequent crosswise run, aiming for a 35-45 degree angle from your previous run.

After scarifying your lawn, you'll be left with a significant amount of loose thatch that needs to be cleared. While some scarifiers come with bags to catch the thatch, they tend to fill up quickly and require frequent emptying.

It's a good idea to have a rake and a wheelbarrow at hand when scarifying, as you can rake the thatch into piles and remove it using the wheelbarrow.

Additionally, a leaf blower can be a useful tool to help gather the thatch into piles, making the cleanup process even easier.