Scarifying the lawn into lushness

Preparing the lawn at Towerwater for summer normally starts in late winter or early spring. In winter, we mow the lawn less frequently because it tends to grow slower during the cold season. By the end of the season, the lawn resembles a shaggy carpet and the need to scarify it becomes apparent.

The lawn after scarifying

The way we scarify the lawn, and which has never failed to respond spectacularly, involves several steps. The first, is to set the mower on its lowest blade setting for mowing. The mowing process is much slower and normally takes about two days instead of the usual two hours. Then we thinly spread prime quality topsoil, taking the opportunity to level dips and hollows that might have developed in the lawn. We use a large garden fork to aerate heavily compacted areas. This is followed by feeding the lawn with an organic fertilizer. Finally, unless one is fortunate to enjoy some good rainy weather, heavy and regular watering is required to ensure that no drying out occurs while the lawn recovers.

The fertilizer we use, is an organic poultry manure fertilizer that is weed free, high in nitrogen and perfect for the lawn. It comes in the form of a slow releasing organic fertiliser pellet. It provides essential plant nutrients which are released slowly into the soil, stimulating microbiological activity, making further nutrients available to the new lawn.

Too much thatch in a lawn will give your grass a spongy feel when you walk on it. It is furthermore unhealthy for your lawn. One needs to scarify your lawn on an annual basis to give it the opportunity to regrow and to sport the look of a lush and green new lawn by the start of summer.

The benefits of lawn scarification include:

• Removing harmful levels of thatch
• Pruning grass roots and encouraging new growth.
• Allowing water to reach the soil.
• Allowing air to reach the upper layer of soil under the short grass .
• Allowing nutrients to reach the grass plants.
• Removing moss and dead weeds.
• Improving the overall health of your lawn.
• Refreshing tired or overgrown lawns.

Scarifying is scary. Immediately after completion of the process, the lawn resembles a large expanse of soil with patches of thin lawn. However, thankfully, with good feeding and watering, it quickly recovers with an abundance of lush spring growth. 

The lawn one week after it was scarified

The Towerwater lawn forms an essential part of our lifestyle. The lawned outspan is where we spend our most treasured moments of relaxation and entertainment. In summer, the lawn under the big oak becomes our outdoor dining room. A verdant lush green carpet of grass is an essential requirement for this purpose.