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Too Late to Scarify?
justin.davies4
Posts: 2
Hi
So, i'm a novice gardner who has decided to embrace my lawn and start to really look at looking after it
Its not in a bad shape at all and have just mowed it for the past 3 years (from new)
I now have lawnscience in to do all of the treatments and 4 weeks ago just finished the moss/weed and feed
Is it now too late in the month to scarify (as ive just treated myself to an allett classic 17 mower!)
Also just so i'm clear, if i do scarify say this week, should i then look at aerating it, then overseeding any bare patches with some top dressing?
Thanks for your help in advance
Justin
0
Posts
I've not done anything to my lawn yet this year other than mow it ... it's either been too dry or too cold ... when this cold snap is over I'll use a moss killer, let that work and then scarify and feed.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
My OH scarifies when he feels like it which can be early or late and depends on weather conditions more than anything. If you've already mown this year and it isn't freezing or soaking wet then go ahead. You'll end up with a scruffy looking mess but it will recover.
If you have a lot of moss then yes, go ahead and aerate by poking in your garden fork deeply and at frequent intervals then wiggle to widen the holes. Brush in some sharp sand to maintain the holes for drainage and aeration of your grass roots then feed with a lawn feed.
The most important thing you can do is to make sure you don't scalp your grass. Maintain the mower blades at a minimum of 1" high and higher in dry or cold weather so your grass has enough leaf surface to feed and maintain a strong root system that will help it fight off competition from moss and weeds.
If you have an electric scarifier then at this time of year, after killing the moss, use the rake attachment. This will remove old and dead moss and thatch.Then if you have any bare patches over seed with quality seed. Your lawn will come back in no time. Keep mowing. I only use the scarifying blades in the autumn when the weather is fine, that allows the winter for the lawn to recover.