Lawn maintenance doesn't start and end with a mower. To have a comprehensive maintenance routine, you may want to invest in a scarifier to help your lawn stay as healthy as possible.
In this guide, we’ll take you through what this important tool is, how it works, and what features you should look for when you’re buying a new lawn scarifier.
What is a lawn scarifier?
To start things off, let’s look at what a scarifier is. Although the name sounds alarming, grass scarifiers are actually incredibly useful to help your lawn stay in top condition over the years.
A grass scarifier, much like a lawn mower, is designed to help you maintain your lawn. However, instead of cutting grass, a scarifier removes the top layer of dead moss, old grass stems, and other garden debris (like leaves and dead plant stems). This layer may be referred to as thatch, and can cause problems if it’s left on your lawn. Scarifiers can help you to aerate your lawn and keep it healthy over time by agitating and releasing compacted soil.
Why should you use a lawn scarifier?
As we mentioned above, lawn scarifiers are designed to remove thatch from the top of your grass. But why is this important?
Usually, you’d think that leaving dead plant materials on your lawn could be beneficial because as they break down this plant matter will release valuable nutrients back into the soil - like compost. However, this is not usually the case, and leaving thatch on your lawn can cause a lot of problems for your lawn, including:
-
Blocking moisture from reaching the lower levels of soil
-
Stopping water from draining, causing your garden to become waterlogged
-
Suffocating your grass, and blocking sunlight
-
Preventing your grass from rooting properly, which could lead to bare patches
-
Increasing soil acidity - which is not good for alkaline plants
-
Creating competition for nutrients, which can affect the growth of your grass
By using a scarifier, you’re helping to keep your lawn healthy, reduce the number of weeds growing, and keep your grass lasting longer. By churning up compacted soil, you can also aerate the ground, which is important for allowing nutrient absorption and releasing carbon dioxide.
How does a lawn scarifier work?
Lawn scarifiers are often considered similar to rakes, because at a basic level they’re used to disrupt and gather mosses and other garden debris for easy removal. In fact, for smaller lawns, you may want to use a rake to remove the top layer of thatch from your garden.
However, scarifiers can do much more than a simple rake, and can save you a lot of time and labour. Beneath the body of your scarifier, you’ll find the most important part of your machine - the tines or blades.
As you use a scarifier, the blades rotate and will actually cut into the thatch and the top layer of your soil by several millimetres. Not only does this make waste removal much easier (especially with a grass box), but this creates breaks in the soil and allows for important gas exchanges and aeration.
Note - scarifiers can even cut your grass shoots, which encourages new growth and will help to make your lawn healthier.
Grass scarifier terminology
At Hughie Willett Machinery, we think that before you buy a new tool, like a scarifier, it’s important to understand the basic construction and the parts. In this section, we’ll take you through what features you need to look for, and give you the information you need to pick out the best scarifier for you.
Note - we’ve used the Stihl RLA240 AK Range Battery Scarifier for our diagram. Whilst many of the features will carry across to different models, some will vary. For example, petrol models will have an engine in place of battery storage.
-
Handle: this handle is your main point of contact with your scarifier.
-
Trigger handle: this is what controls the rotation of the scarifier blades when the engine is switched on. Double measures like this help to protect you from accidentally engaging the blades and prevent potential injuries.
-
Power switch: this controls the engine, and needs to be pressed before pulling the trigger handle.
Note - this will be different for petrol engines, which will have a starter pull cord or button.
-
Carrying handle: the carrying handle helps you to easily move your scarifier around an area, especially if your lawn is uneven. It also makes it easier to carry it to and from storage.
-
Grass box: the grass box is attached to the back of the scarifier body, and is designed to catch thatch as the scarifier picks it up - to make cleaning up waste much easier.
-
Handle adjuster: some scarifiers come with a handle adjuster to allow you to change the height and orientation of the handle. This also helps with easy storage.
-
Cutting height adjuster: depending on your lawn, you may need to reset the cutting height of the scarifier blades to work best with your needs. Having the adjuster attached to the body of the scarifier is a lot safer (to keep your hands away from the blades).
-
Battery box: this is where you store the battery (the cover keeps it protected from damage and the elements).
-
Body: the body of your scarifier protects the blades beneath - and protects you from the blades.
-
Wheels: wheeled scarifiers are easier to use, and this model in particular has grooved wheels to provide better traction on the ground.
How to use a scarifier
Using a scarifier is largely similar to how you would use a lawn mower, or other wheeled groundcare tool. Simply turn your scarifier on, and move up and down your lawn in a regular fashion to get the best, and most even, results.
Top tip - don’t forget to wear sturdy work boots when using a scarifier to protect your feet.
To help you make the most of your new scarifier, we’ve included some of our top tips below.
-
Move in straight, slightly overlapping lines to make sure you get full coverage.
-
Mow first to make it easier for your scarifier to work efficiently.
-
Clear any large pieces of debris before you use it - like toys, rocks, or larger obstacles that could damage the tines or blades.
Check out our article on When to Scarify Your Lawn for some more useful information about this groundcare tool.
Scarifier buying considerations
Now that you’ve got the foundations down, it’s time to look at what factors will influence your scarifier purchasing decision.
Type
The first, and arguably biggest decision factor, is what type of lawn scarifier you’re after. Depending on your needs, the type of tool you need will be different. So, to help make things clearer, we’ve put together a brief description of the main types of scarifier, and where they’re best suited for.
Manual scarifiers
As we mentioned above, scarifiers can be similar to rakes - and none more so than the handheld, or manual, models. With these, you’re the one providing the power, either by pulling or pushing the grass scarifier across your lawn.
Top tip - if your manual lawn scarifier is mounted on wheels, you can push it across your lawn. Otherwise you’ll need to pull the tines towards you for the best effect.
If you have a small lawn, a manual scarifier may be all you need to keep your grass in tip top condition. Plus, they’re quiet, durable, and easy to store. However, you will need to pick up waste thatch yourself, and they’re overall more labour intensive to use.
Powered lawn scarifiers
One step up from a manual lawn scarifier, you may want to choose from a range of powered models. These are typically push-along scarifiers (or stand-behind depending on how it’s phrased) and are a lot easier to use over a larger area.
You’re also more likely to benefit from soil aeration with a powered scarifier, as the blades will be able to churn compacted soil and give the ground a better chance to recover from heavy use.
Top tip - powered scarifiers often come with grass box attachments, which will save you time and effort when it comes to collecting thatch at the end of the job.
Tow-behind lawn scarifiers
For more industrial or professional use, you might want to choose a tow-behind dethatcher to help you work effectively and efficiently. These can be attached to the back of a tractor or other suitable vehicle for a simple way of removing dead moss and other debris from your lawn.
A tow-behind scarifier has a larger working area, which is ideal if you’re working in larger areas - like fields or large garden estates. Once you’re done, all you’ll need is a lawn sweeper to help pick up the debris and your lawn will be prepared for the next season.
Power type
If you’ve decided that a powered scarifier is one for you, then your next decision needs to be which power type is most suitable for your plans. As with most power tools, there are three main power sources you can choose from, each with their own advantages and disadvantages.
-
Petrol scarifiers: a petrol engine offers you the best scarifier in terms of power, so if you have a larger area to cover this could be the one for you. They’re also supremely portable, which means you can use them on larger estates where there isn’t an electricity port close by. However, petrol engines are noisier than other options, and will require more maintenance to ensure they’re running safely and efficiently.
-
Electric scarifiers: electricity is the most stable power source, as once your scarifier is plugged in it can work indefinitely (or until unplugged). However, you need to be mindful of the cord wherever you’re working. Electric scarifiers are perfect for domestic settings, where you can be close to a mains supply.
-
Cordless scarifiers: taking the best of both worlds, a cordless, or battery, lawn scarifier allows you to work wherever you need to without the noise or weight of a petrol engine. You are limited to working within the battery life, but this can be mitigated by having a network of power tool batteries to swap in and out as necessary.
Weight
Another important aspect of choosing a lawn care tool, like a grass scarifier, is the weight of the tool itself. This will dictate how well you can use it in the first place, and is an essential consideration before committing to a purchase.
If your scarifier is too heavy, you won’t be able to use it efficiently, and could end up causing more harm to your lawn - especially if the blades are stagnant in one area for too long. Plus, if you’re struggling to use your grass scarifier properly, you run the risk of injuring yourself, or someone around you.
With petrol scarifiers often weighing between 30-40kg, this can be a lot to manage if you’re an inexperienced user. Alternatively, electric and cordless models tend to average around 10-20kg - which is a big difference, and definitely something to consider before you buy.
Top tip - your scarifier will weigh more at the end of use, as the grass box will be full of garden waste.
Size
Alongside the weight of your scarifier, size will have an influence on which model is right for you - both in terms of scarifier size, and the area you’re planning to work within. In the simplest terms, you need to make sure that your scarifier suits the area you’re working in.
The first thing you need to look at is the cutting width of your scarifier. This is because a wider cutting width will mean you have to do fewer passes over an area, saving you time and energy in the long run. Most powered scarifiers have a cutting width between 30-40cm (roughly 12-16 inches) - whilst tow-behind models will naturally cover a larger area.
Of course, choosing the right cutting width, and type of scarifier, for you will rely on how large an area you’re working with.
-
For small gardens (<100m2): with a little bit of effort, a manual grass scarifier will help you look after your lawn, and save you money over choosing a larger model.
-
For medium lawns (100-500m2): for mid-sized areas, an electric lawn scarifier will have plenty of room to manoeuvre without causing issues with the cord. Alternatively, a battery-powered scarifier will be easy to use, and within the capabilities of the battery life.
-
For larger areas (>500m2): a petrol or tow-behind lawn scarifier will be better for you, as they’ll be able to cover a big area within a reasonable timeframe.
Tines or blades
Scarifiers are designed with two primary functions; to release thatch from the top layer of your lawn to make it easier to remove; and to cut into compacted soil to help with aeration - both of which help to keep your lawn in top form. So, the question of tines or blades depends entirely on what purpose you’re expecting your scarifier to fulfil.
If you’re looking to lift thatch at the start of spring, then you want a scarifier with tines. These are thin rods which catch on to garden debris on top of your lawn and pull it away from the ground - where it can be picked up and collected for disposal.
Alternatively, if the earth is looking compacted and doesn’t appear to be draining effectively, you may need your scarifier to cut into the soil and stir it up more - which is where blades will be more useful.
Top tip - the higher the number of blades or tines, the more effective your scarifier will be. Also, keep in mind what material your blades or tines are made of - steel will be stronger than plastic for example.
If you need both options, many lawn scarifiers will have the option to switch between a tine roller and blade roller - so you can tailor your tool to the job you need.
Additional features
Outside of the basics, you should always be on the lookout for lawn scarifiers with additional features that can make your life easier.
For example, if you choose a scarifier with a grass box, you should explore what volume these come in. A larger collection box will save you time as you’ll have to empty it less frequently, but bear in mind that it will affect the weight and manoeuvrability of your scarifier.
Additionally, ergonomic handles make them much more pleasant to use, and can be a lot better for your back and physical health - so keep an eye out for handle adjusters and extra settings you can use to get the handle at the right height for you.
Looking for the best place to buy a lawn scarifier?
If you’re looking for unbeatable prices and quality groundcare advice, you’ve come to the right place. At Hughie Willett Machinery, we’re one of the leading suppliers for top groundcare brands like Stihl, Husqvarna, Cobra, and more!
You’ll have plenty of scarifiers to choose from, and our friendly team is always on hand to offer you more advice and information throughout your buying journey. Get in touch with us online, or call 0121 308 1262 to speak to one of our experts.
Shop for scarifiers from Hughie Willett Machinery today
For more information, advice, and valuable buying guides, explore our Hughie Willett Machinery blog…
The Ultimate Guide to Buying a Chainsaw | The Ultimate Guide to Buying a Ride On Lawn Mower | The Complete Hedge Trimmer Buying Guide