INFOGRAPHIC TRANSCRIPT:
Lawn Scarification: A Complete Guide
Scarification is a vital part of any lawn care schedule—but few people know what it is, when to do it, or why it’s so important.
What is lawn scarification?
Scarification might sound like something out of a horror movie, but it’s actually a process that gardeners use to remove dead moss and thatch from the surface of a lawn. If allowed to build up, moss and thatch can have some really negative effects on your lawn—for example, it can…
- Prevent water and nutrients from penetrating the soil
- Suffocate new grass shoots that are trying to emerge from the soil
- Encourage the development of lawn diseases and fungus
When should you scarify your lawn?
Most gardeners agree that the best time to scarify your lawn is when the grass is growing quickly. If you scarify at the wrong time of year (i.e. when grass growth is slow), you risk damaging your lawn severely. So when should you scarify your lawn?
Late Spring and Early Autumn are the two best times to scarify your lawn, capitalising on both the weather and the ground conditions.
Your lawn before and after scarification
When it comes to lawn scarification, the proof is in the pudding. On the left, you can see the lawn before it was scarified. It's patchy, uneven in colour and quite dull. On the right, you can see the lawn after it's been scarified. The lawn is much healthier, and the colour is brighter and more even!
How long does it take for a scarified lawn to recover?
While scarification will benefit your lawn enormously in the long run, you might not see results right away. A scarified lawn typically takes between 4 and 6 weeks to fully recover. Incorporating other lawn treatments into the recovery period can help your lawn to recover more quickly—for example:
- Top Dressing
- Overseeding
- Fertilising
Lawn scarification tips
1. Mowing your lawn a week prior to scarifying can be a great way to prep your garden. This will remove excess grass and cut up any stubborn thatch, making it easier to remove.
2. Apply moss killer to your lawn a week or so before your scheduled scarification. This will ensure the moss is dead and prevent it from spreading.
3. If the weather is dry, water your grass a couple of days before scarifying. Alternatively, you could wait and scarify your lawn after a rainy spell.
Lawn & Weed Expert offer a professional lawn scarification service to help you bring your lawn back to life. Call us on 0800 111 4958 or email sales@lawnweedexpert.co.uk to arrange your FREE lawn survey!
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