How to scarify and fertilise your lawn
Scarifying and fertilising your lawn is an important part of your garden's upkeep. When done correctly, you can enjoy a lush and healthy lawn throughout the year.
However, lack of proper lawncare could lead to moss and dry patches replacing your once green grass. Follow these tips & tricks to take care of your lawn like a pro.
Why should I scarify my lawn?
Before we tackle the how of scarifying a lawn, let’s take a step back and focus on the why.
A layer of thatch will begin to form on almost any lawn, caused by dead grass stalks. Moss will probably grow on top of that thatch layer, but grass needs sufficient air, light, and water to grow. A thick layer of thatch and moss retains most of the necessary nutrients and stops them from reaching the grass roots. This causes the dry, brown patches in your lawn, because the grass has died.
To prevent this from happening, you need to scarify your lawn. Scarifying removes the layer of thatch and moss. Afterwards, you can easily rake away the remnants.

When should I scarify and fertilise my lawn?
The best time to scarify is after it's rained and your lawn is still wet. If it's been dry for a while, it's best to spray your lawn thoroughly first.
The ideal months for scarifying are April and May.
If your lawn gets plenty of sunlight throughout the year or if it grows on sandy soil, it's enough to scarify it once a year.
Moss flourishes in the shade and on clay or peat soil. If this is the case for your garden, you'll have to scarify and fertilise it twice a year. The second time in October, preferably. This will help your lawn survive a cold and wet winter without any damage.

How do I scarify my lawn correctly?
There are two ways to scarify your lawn:
- By hand: this method is really only suitable for very small patches of lawn. You'll need to go over your entire lawn on hands and knees, and cut through the thatch layer with a knife. You can also use a specially designed scarifying rake, so you can work more ergonomically. But it's still a time and energy-consuming way of doing this.
- With a lawn scarifier: this is the most efficient method. The scarifier does all the work for you, cutting through the layer of thatch and moss. The only thing you need to do, is set the right cutting depth and push it across your lawn, like you would a lawnmower.
It's best to work in two directions: lengthwise first, then widthwise. You'll cross each spot twice, so the moss and thatch will be loosened perfectly. We recommend doing it in straight lines to make it as easy as possible.
The only thing left to do, is rake everything together and remove it. We recommend raking in two directions as well. This ensures the best results.
What do I do after scarifying?
After scarifying your lawn thoroughly, it may not be the prettiest sight, and it will have a lot of bare spots. You can fix this by sowing new seeds or replacing the bare patches with new turf.
Your lawn needs to recover, so you should lightly fertilise it. Make sure to distribute the fertiliser evenly.
This is also the perfect time to check if your lawn is getting enough sunlight. If it's still a breeding ground for moss, despite getting more than enough sun, you should measure the soil's pH value. If it's too high, just add calcium or iron sulphate to your soil.
If you want to scarify and fertilise your lawn like a pro, download our cheat sheet for a lush, green lawn.