Scarifying is very stressful for a lawn, especially when using an electric scarifier rather than a lawn rake. That means you want to do it only when the grass is growing really well. Your lawn looks like it hasn't yet recovered from the summer, so personally I wouldn't want to scarify for the time being. I would suggest giving it a really good soak of water (1"), waiting a couple of weeks, then reassesing its health. A bit of fertiliser might help too.
If the lawn doesn't grow well this autumn, you might want to wait until the Spring.
You can still overseed the thin patches this autumn if you want to, and you could treat with iron sulphate to kill the moss in the lawn to limit its growth over the winter.
To answer your question though... I would expect the ground to be moist but the lawn to be dry when scarifying or aerating - the ground is normally damp when the lawn's growing well.
It looks like you might have a few weeds in your lawn. If you're open to using chemicals, Weedol do a very good weedkiller for lawns. It's applied once a year in the autumn or spring (when weeds are growing well), but read the packet if you overseed areas because it's not good for new grass.
Posts
If the lawn doesn't grow well this autumn, you might want to wait until the Spring.
You can still overseed the thin patches this autumn if you want to, and you could treat with iron sulphate to kill the moss in the lawn to limit its growth over the winter.
It looks like you might have a few weeds in your lawn. If you're open to using chemicals, Weedol do a very good weedkiller for lawns. It's applied once a year in the autumn or spring (when weeds are growing well), but read the packet if you overseed areas because it's not good for new grass.
Think I’ll finish scarifying then mow up the trimmings. Maybe wait before aerating.
Then apply the same feed/seed/mosskiller as spring.
Do more grass patching.
Give it a few weeks and see where we are!
During
After
Im not sure if I should be pleased or concerned that it’s not all that different!