Buy scarifiers cheaply: Consumer tips
With a rotating spring steel blade or springs, it cuts vertically into the ground. The scarifying material is deposited behind the device or collected in a catch bag. Typically, the shaft is powered by an electric motor, while larger models are driven by a petrol engine. The cutting depth can be adjusted by the height of the wheel or the change of the blade shaft. A depth of two centimetres is recommended and sufficient. This allows the thatch layer to be removed without harming the lawn.
What should be considered when buying?
Electric devices are significantly cheaper than those with petrol engines. However, an electric motor requires a cable. Petrol engines provide multiple times the power and performance but pollute the environment with their emissions. Overall, a good scarifier should have good and large wheels as well as high-quality blades. The question of repair and spare parts should also be included in the purchasing considerations, along with the safety of the operator for electric devices.
How is it best to scarify?
One should primarily scarify in spring, between mid-April and early May, as the lawn is very capable of regeneration at this time. The lawn should be mowed beforehand, and fertilisation is recommended afterwards. If there are gaps in the grass turf, overseeding may be necessary. Scarifying should not be done in warm weather and heat periods. Therefore, the second scarifying at the end of August to September should be skipped in rainless summers. During the second scarifying in late summer, often less intensive work can be done, while in spring, one can scarify a bit more strongly without issue. However, care should be taken to scratch the soil without completely removing the roots.
