Greenkeepers help - scarifying lawn
- Thread starter matt611
- Start date
it's never too late, however, bear in mind your lawn will look like a muni football park goalmouth area after you've done it.
Best way, if you have time is a weekly rake of the moss, it gets easier each week but constant maintenance reaps better and longer rewards.
Best way, if you have time is a weekly rake of the moss, it gets easier each week but constant maintenance reaps better and longer rewards.
Doon frae Troon
Ryder Cup Winner
Buy a Springbok rake and give it a go spring and autumn. Good exercise!
Another good tip is to get as much wear/footfall out of the lawn as you can, seats, swings fitba etc etc. Keep moving things around though.
Cost nothing and is much more effective.
Another good tip is to get as much wear/footfall out of the lawn as you can, seats, swings fitba etc etc. Keep moving things around though.
Cost nothing and is much more effective.
apj0524
Head Pro
I am in need of doing this myself, so I have started to rake the lawn, which as you say is making it look like a muni kick about park, so what is bet to do next, patch with turf or try and re-seed? if re-seeding is the best way to go any advise, such as the best brand, when, how etc
Thanks
Thanks
Doon frae Troon
Ryder Cup Winner
Best to re-seed late August.
Funny how golfers with crap lawns tend to be the first to complain about their clubs greens!!
[Not the above pair though]
Funny how golfers with crap lawns tend to be the first to complain about their clubs greens!!
[Not the above pair though]
harpo_72
Journeyman Pro
I have been working on mine since March. I mowed it first, then spent a week raking moss out (30 minute bursts, it's a tough job!). I then hollow tined it with a fork and a specialist tool. After that I put lawn sand down and this killed the moss off a bit more. I was left with a bit more raking to do to remove the remains of the dead moss. I then was left with large muddy patches which I broke up and loosened with a rake and then then levelled out. I got some grass seed that is good for shady areas, as my wife's weeds over hang and cut the light out ( I gave those weeds a strimming ... 
) but it took about 2 weeks for the stuff to get going.
I have since seeded more grass and tried to make my own patch magic, with potting compost ( seedling germination) and fresh top soil. It has only just started to sprout and the patches in the lawn have not taken ... So it's a bit hit and miss. The other issue is I now have clover in the other bits
so that is my next job.
What I will say is a well tended lawn always makes the garden look good ... It really doesn't matter about the plants.
) but it took about 2 weeks for the stuff to get going. I have since seeded more grass and tried to make my own patch magic, with potting compost ( seedling germination) and fresh top soil. It has only just started to sprout and the patches in the lawn have not taken ... So it's a bit hit and miss. The other issue is I now have clover in the other bits
so that is my next job. What I will say is a well tended lawn always makes the garden look good ... It really doesn't matter about the plants.
matt611
Head Pro
Using a rake isn't practical for me time wise. My plan is to scarify on a very easy setting and then overseed, maybe aerating some bad patches with a garden fork. Then come Autumn I will start a proper lawn care regime.
Slab
Occasional Tour Caddy
Plenty of Moss killer chemicals out there for the environmentally unfriendly approach that'll make raking easier
London mike 61
Challenge Tour Pro
If the moss is in a generally shaded area under a tree perhaps then it will come back at some stage on a regular basis but scarifiy then chuck some seed down and that should fill any holes in the grass.
Dont worry if the birds have a peck at the seed , they normally have a more varied diet this time of year and seed would be last on their list ( think steak or cereal, what would you go for? ) to eat.
Good luck with getting rid of it.
Dont worry if the birds have a peck at the seed , they normally have a more varied diet this time of year and seed would be last on their list ( think steak or cereal, what would you go for? ) to eat.
Good luck with getting rid of it.
apj0524
Head Pro
Gosh all this seems a lot of work, I'll google astra turf me thinks LoL
TLB
Club Champion
I work for our family business supplying groundcare equipment and I have personally scarified and then over-seeded, raking in a sand and then topsoil mixture. Plenty of seed to soil contact and then it should grow back a lot stronger. You can also aerate early spring / autumn and that should lay down the foundations for a healthier lawn for the following season.
harpo_72
Journeyman Pro
What type sand and fertiliser do you suggest?
Foxholer
Blackballed
Waay too much work involved - unless completely 'lost' - imo!
The whole purpose of (most) lawn is to be an easy-care green solution to the area. If you have to put much more work than a regular cut and occasional feed to have it at that state, then it's almost better to find a different solution!
Shaded areas that are prone to moss can be useful 'brownie point' acquirers - as it's often simpler to turn that area over to shade loving shrubbery. Moss isn't invasive, grass is, so if moss is dominating, it's because grass won't grow well!
Forget trying to treat a lawn the same way as a Golf Green. They are totally different beasts, with totally different purposes, construction and make up. Don't even think Fairway - think semi/Fairway edging.
The whole purpose of (most) lawn is to be an easy-care green solution to the area. If you have to put much more work than a regular cut and occasional feed to have it at that state, then it's almost better to find a different solution!
Shaded areas that are prone to moss can be useful 'brownie point' acquirers - as it's often simpler to turn that area over to shade loving shrubbery. Moss isn't invasive, grass is, so if moss is dominating, it's because grass won't grow well!
Forget trying to treat a lawn the same way as a Golf Green. They are totally different beasts, with totally different purposes, construction and make up. Don't even think Fairway - think semi/Fairway edging.
6inchcup
Journeyman Pro
i hired an electric lawn rake for a week end and both me and my neighbours did our lawns,got a airator tool from a mate and drill holes every few inches to let the soil sand seed mixture get down to aid growth total cost was £60 and i use a good feed and weed with a spot stick ,pity it is now the play area for the grandkids and their friends,football, wendy house paddling pool and trampoline its a wonder you can see the grass.
Jabba
Challenge Tour Pro
I hired one from HSS, £7.60+vat for 24 hours. At that rate I couldn't justify buying one.
Our greenkeeper came and had a look at my lawn and he stressed very regular mowing to encourage the grass to thicken as opposed to growing high. I overseeded the area, using a 50/50 compost to sand ratio, mow twice weekly and the bare patches that the scarifying caused are improving rapidly.
Our greenkeeper came and had a look at my lawn and he stressed very regular mowing to encourage the grass to thicken as opposed to growing high. I overseeded the area, using a 50/50 compost to sand ratio, mow twice weekly and the bare patches that the scarifying caused are improving rapidly.
CliveW
Tour Winner
I bought one of these at the beginning of the year http://www.diy.com/nav/garden/garde...ter-1400W-2-in-1-Raker-And-Scarifier-11987506 and it works a treat. Similar to the one you are looking at.
matt611
Head Pro
Well I jumped the gun and bought the scarifier this afternoon. It was easy to set up and I used it straight away. It's amazing how much moss it lifted and I was using it on the easiest/gentlest of settings.
Unfortunately there are some black patches from where I applied evergreen complete 4in1. I think the recent warm weather accelerated the burning of the weeds and has left it looking a bit of a mess.
Next step is to overseed and aerate.
Unfortunately there are some black patches from where I applied evergreen complete 4in1. I think the recent warm weather accelerated the burning of the weeds and has left it looking a bit of a mess.
Next step is to overseed and aerate.
SwingsitlikeHogan
Major Champion
My objective for our lawn is for it to look good from my little conservatory and patio. It might be patchy and not great close up - but I'm not that bothered if it looks nice from the house. So I did heavy scarifying about 5weeks ago, seed and feed. Have been letting it grow - and now looks long and strong enough to mow. Will avoid for time being mowing the areas where the scarifying left it bare and it's basically all new and bnot very strong grass.
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Pin-seeker
Well-known member
This is my thinking aswell. Some really good artificial grass available now.
I did all this a few years ago when we moved intoour current place. It has a ery large lawn area sothought it would be nice to have a god lawn.
Hired a scarifier and a airater and by the ed of that autum it looked fantastic....
How ever with the climate up here, buy the time i came to cut the grass the following spring, it was back to how it had been before i started
Hired a scarifier and a airater and by the ed of that autum it looked fantastic....
How ever with the climate up here, buy the time i came to cut the grass the following spring, it was back to how it had been before i started
