How to scarify a lawn

Knowing how to scarify a lawn properly makes common lawn problems like moss and thatch a breeze to deal with! Moss will make your lawn feel spongy, and you can often see it growing as a layer at the base of your grass. Alongside this, you might also notice dead grass, known as thatch.  Removing thatch is not only a good idea in autumn and spring but also essential if you need to overseed any areas. The quickest way to get rid of this is with a simple scarify, and you can use the two methods mentioned below to do this.

Different options for how to scarify your lawn:

Method 1: Using a spring tine rake

Use a leaf rake, not an ordinary rake, as this will rip lumps out of your grass rather than the moss/thatch.

This is the simplest way, although it involves quite a bit of physical effort to do the whole area. It would be best to aim to rake in one direction and then at a slightly different angle to get more material. Remember that your grass will need help to recover from this. So, sowing more seeds or feedingis a good idea.

Method 2: Using an automated scarifier

An automated scarifier will speed up this process and save you a lot of effort if you have a larger area! You can hire or buy one if you have a large area to cover. This method will remove a lot more material and be useful if you want to overseed afterwards. This may result in seeing soil patches where the moss has been removed -  but that is what you need to overseed, so don’t panic!

This is best done in September as an autumn renovation or in April as a spring renovation.

Will knowing how to scarify a lawn help with thatch?

Scarifying can help, but even the best-kept lawns will suffer from a build-up of thatch. However, some lawns will experience it more frequently, and this is where it becomes an issue! Compacted or heavy soil that doesn’t drain well lets water sit and allows moss to thrive. Shady and damp areas under trees can also be a consistent moss problem. You can help alleviate dampness and poor drainage through aeration - if you have clay soils, we have a guide on how to get the very best out of them.