My lawn had been entirely overrun by moss and weeds since spring, with barely any healthy grass left in sight. Shaded patches, waterlogged soil, poor drainage and weak grass growth had combined to create ideal conditions for moss and weeds to take hold, steadily encroaching on thinner sections of the lawn.
Determined to restore it without harsh chemicals, I turned to gardening expert Monty Don's blog, where I found guidance on rejuvenating lawns through scarification and aeration and resolved to try it.
The natural lawn restoration method
Scarifying removes excess thatch and moss from the base of the grass to promote healthier growth. It is followed by aeration, which perforates the soil to improve the flow of air and water down to the roots.
Monty Don suggested that a garden rake and fork are sufficient for scarifying and aerating. However, because my lawn is considerably large and severely affected by moss, tackling it by hand would have demanded significant time and effort.
Instead, I used an electric two-in-one VonHaus Scarifier and Aerator 2000W. With this tool, I removed the moss and got the lawn ready for overseeding in just under three hours.
How to scarify and aerate a lawn
Before starting, I cut the grass down to a height of around 2 to 3cm. Scarifiers have extremely sharp blades, so it was essential to set them correctly. I adjusted the blades to penetrate the ground to 2 to 3mm, testing the depth on a small patch first and making further adjustments if needed.
I worked methodically across the entire lawn in one direction, then turned and went diagonally over the whole area once more. I made sure to move swiftly and consistently without stopping so that I didn't cause damage to the turf.
What to expect when scarifying
Scarifying can be nerve-wracking. As you guide the machine across the lawn, you see a trail of destruction left in its wake. I was surprised to find the collector box completely full by the time I reached the top of the garden on the first pass.
There were numerous ridges throughout the lawn caused by the scarifier's blades, but even after that initial run, considerable moss remained beneath the surface. I ran the scarifier up and down the entire lawn, then diagonally from bottom left to top right, and finished with a pass from bottom right to top left.
My advice is to stay calm, as your lawn will more than likely look worryingly bare after scarifying and aerating.
After scarifying: aeration and next steps
Once scarifying was complete, I swapped the rollers to turn the machine into an aerator. I switched it on, adjusted the settings according to my soil type and the desired depth for the spikes, and walked slowly across the lawn.
With aeration done, the next stage in restoring the lawn is overseeding, followed by an application of top dressing.
