Scarifying the lawn in autumn: Why now is the right time and what other lawn care is important

If you want to enjoy a healthy lawn, fall is a good time to care for your green spaces. Scarifying your lawn in the fall will ensure lush, strong grass next season.

For scarifying, the soil should be warm and moist, and autumn is the best season to suit these conditions. The grass needs time to recover because scarifying aggressively removes excessive tangles from the turf. Thatching can reduce air circulation between grass plants, which can lead to fungal problems. In addition to scarifying, there are a few other care measures for your grass that are very importantimportant in autumnare. Read on and follow these steps to have a well-maintained lawn!

After the summer growing season, our lawns often look a little tired. The hot and dry weather or increased traffic, especially if you have children or pets, contribute to the poor appearance of the grass. Therefore it is very importantMaintain lawn properly. Scarifying is one of the necessary and simple care measures. When to scarify in autumn? Early fall is best to allow your lawn to recover well before winter arrives.

Scarifying lawns in autumn: advantages

Taking this action in the fall will make your grass more drought resistant and able to survive the extreme weather conditions of winter. After scarifying, nutrients, air and water can reach the turf and roots more efficiently. Scarifying removes moss and saves your lawn from moss infestation in the future. Reducing thatch will make mowing much easier, as too much turf will cause the quality of your lawn to deteriorate.

What you should consider

There are some preparatory measures you should take to get the job done properly. Before scarifying, you must mow your grass. Short grass makes the process easier and saves you from undue effort. The day before work, cut the grass as short as possible. If youHaving weeds in your lawn, you can remove it manually. Moisten the soil before starting work because moist soil makes scarifying easier and the grass recovers more quickly afterwards. Scarify in the afternoon if the weather is dry.

How to scarify in autumn

Scarifying is a simple process. Do this:

  • Rake your lawn vigorously with a spring-tine rake. Make sure you only remove loose parts without tearing up the grass.
  • For better results, work in one direction first, then the other. This will allow you to remove as much straw as possible.
  • It is very important to remove all of the raked turf. Leaving dead grass on the ground can cause problems as it becomes susceptible to fungus and disease.
  • After scarifying, your lawn may look a little patchy, but don't worry, it will soon recover and look and grow better in the long term.

What further care after scarifying?

In addition to scarifying, the lawn also needsventilation. This improves air and water movement between the grass roots and helps the grass survive periods of drought or waterlogging.

How do you aerate your lawn? The easiest way is to prick the lawn with a garden fork. Poke the holes 10 to 15 cm apart and as deep as possible, preferably to the full depth of the tines. Move the fork back and forth to enlarge the holes. This improves drainage and promotes the proper absorption of water and nutrients. Worms also do a good job of aerating the soil. How often should you aerate lawns? For most areas, aeration every two to three years should be sufficient.

Don't forget thoseTop dressing, because your lawn definitely needs nutrients after the stressful summer period. For top dressing, you will need a mixture of clay, sand and well-rotted organic material to fill the ventilation holes. This is particularly useful in heavy soils as it improves soil structure and drainage, resulting in a healthier and stronger lawn.

How do you make your own mixture:

For the homemade mixture to fertilize your lawn you need

  • three parts sandy loam
  • six parts sand
  • six parts compost

Note: Use a large container to measure the pieces, e.g. B. a bucket.

How to use the mixture:

Apply the mixture at a rate of 2 to 3 kg per square meter - this corresponds to approximately one shovel per square meter. Fill the vent holes by simply working the mixture into the vent holes using the back of a rake or broom. Be careful not to leave much on the surface. Apply as much of the mixture as you need to fill the holes. If you follow these steps, you will provide proper lawn care and your lawn will thank you.