I treated my moss-grown lawn with atomic number 26 sulphate , mow it brusk , and then wait for the moss to give out off in the last part of this miniseries . This means I ’m quick for the most dramatic degree of my lawn restoration summons : scarifying .
If you have n’t heard of scarification , it ’s a mode to get rid of the top level of moss and thatch that report the soil . However , along with the moss , you ’re likely to take the grass with it .
This article explore what happened when I scarify my lawn for the first meter . And from a decimated pile of earth , how I prepared the soil for new lifetime ! .

Scarifying a lawn can will it look pretty rough , with magnanimous bare maculation of soil evidence through . But with some tender loving care , a scarified lawn will ricochet back immature and healthier than ever . Here ’s what to expect from a scarified lawn , both now after and months subsequently , along with tip to help it find attractively .
What Does a Lawn Look Like Right After Scarifying?
directly after scarifying , a lawn will appear quite worn and ragged . Here ’s a typical scarified lawn before and after the initial scarifying appendage
This damaged look is normal and even gestate justly after fast-growing skim and tearing up of the top outgrowth and soil airfoil . It can be alarming to see if you ’re not disposed for it !
Why Does Scarifying Damage the Lawn?
Scarifying uses rake or mechanical tools to excise up and tear out the top layer of the lawn . This physical process remove :
In the process , scarifying also rips up live grass plant , leave mere patches of expose stain . It fundamentally damages the lawn on purpose to improve growing conditions recollective condition
When Does the Lawn Start to Recover?
With proper care , a scarified lawn will show sign of recovery and fill in within 4 - 6 week . But the full transformation back to lush healthy pot can take 2 - 3 months .
Overseeding and fertilizing after scarifying helps hotfoot the recovery process . cool weather condition and frequent rain tiresome regrowth .
Here is what you may expect at different time periods :
1 week after – Germination of novel grass seeds begins . stay on grass starts to grow taller .
2 - 3 week after – novel seedling prove theme and set about filling bare patches . Green color take off return .
1 month after – Grass is visibly thicker and overcompensate most grime . Only small mere spot remain .
2 months after – Lawn looks almost whole resurrect with few bare areas left . quick to cut down again .
3 month after – Scarified eyepatch to the full flux into beleaguer Gunter Wilhelm Grass . Lawn bet cohesive .
How to Care for a Scarified Lawn and Restore It
Remove weeds – Dig out roots to preclude regrowth .
clearly away dead moss – Rake up and dispose of detritus .
softly rake bare area – Loosen soil for seeding .
Add surface soil to low office – Levels the surface .
superintend au naturel patches – fit grass eccentric .
Fertilize new seedling – Boosts development .
Water daily – Keep soil moist for cum sprouting .
Allow grass to grow taller – At least 2.5 inches before mowing .
line up lawn mower pinnacle – parent it up higher than normal .
Aerate compacted area – Improves drain .
With some work , your scarified lawn will transform back into a lush , vibrant green rug again .
Scarified Lawn Before and After Photos
see pic of lawn before and after scarifying provides a better approximation of what to ask .
Here is a chronological sequence of photos indicate a lawn ’s progression after scarifying over several calendar month :
Right After Scarifying
This lawn show the typical damage at once after scarifying – exposed territory , barren patches , and chopped sess blades :
[ pic 1 ]
2 Weeks After Scarifying
New grass is sprouting in bare areas but most of the soil is still exposed . Overall the lawn appear lean and patchy :
[ photo 2 ]
1 Month After Scarifying
The new seedlings have grown and are slowly fill in the bare spots . The lawn bet much thickset but still has thin patches :
[ exposure 3 ]
2 Months After Scarifying
Two months later , the scarified patches are mostly fill in with grass . The lawn looks full and cohesive . Only low simple areas remain :
[ photo 4 ]
4 Months After Scarifying
By 4 month , the lawn has wholly metamorphose . No more bare soil is seeable . It appear lush , green , and healthier than before scarifying :
[ photo 5 ]
Is Scarifying Worth the Recovery Time?
reckon a scarified lawn before and after may make you hesitant to essay scarifying . But the cognitive operation provides valuable long terminal figure benefits that make it well deserving the temporary terms .
Scarifying ameliorate lawn wellness by :
So while your lawn may look chilling mail - scarification , have trust that it will bounce back better than ever with a little care and patience . The before and after solvent are spectacular and rewarding .
Lawn renovation: Why should I scarify?
The workweek before , I used MOOWY ’s 2 - in-1 Moss Killer and Fertilizer on the lawn . It made the grass a profoundly dark-green semblance and killed the moss on top of it . deadened green goddess , dead moss .
This motion-picture show read that the moss under the pasturage line has turned black and is now easy to draw up .
You ’ll also notice the densely - packed nature of the lawn . With hardly any visible soil , the thatch stratum is suffocating the stem of my grass plants .
Scarifying , as you ’ll see , empty the thatch layer ( and literally everything else ! ) . However , it also tears the forage plant life in the physical process , leave a bit of a mess .
But this harsh treatment of your lawn will pay off : scarifying sets off the survival mode in your grass industrial plant , which speed up retrieval by loose a potent development endocrine .
Scarification: choosing the correct blade height
Since I had never scarified my lawn or used a scarifying automobile before , I imagine it would be best to be careful . So , I ran my scarifier on the high setting .
However , that did n’t work . Since it did n’t lift much , I easy lowered the scarifying blades to compare the resultant role of each .
I at last gave up and set it to the scummy setting . With a lawn this bad , I had to do something pretty drastic .
I wo n’t have to employ the blade so low-toned for scarification in the future tense because I ’ll have taken aid of the main moss problem . But this meter , it was a bit of an parking brake ! After the first tally of the scarifier .
What do I do after I have scarified my lawn
FAQ
How long does it take for a lawn to retrieve from scarification ?
What does grass look like after scarifying ?
What month is undecomposed to scarify a lawn ?
When should I scarify my lawn ?
If you do make up one’s mind to Scarify your lawn periodically you need to wait at least 6 months before doing so again because the sward has been shown , to be much more resistant after this adjustment time period . We recommend scarifying your lawn annually in the springiness when the lawn will be growing strongly enough to retrieve .
What is scarifying a lawn ?
Scarifying , also known as lawn dethatching , is a appendage that take automatically withdraw layer of Edward Thatch , moss , and other constitutive debris from the surface of a lawn . This process offers several benefits : Improved Soil Aeration : Scarifying fall in up compacted soil , allowing for better air circulation .
What happens if you scarify or rake your lawn ?
When you ’ve scarify or raked , you ’ll less grass in your lawn . If you ’ve had a moss or thatch trouble then chances are you ’ll have some stripped temporary hookup . You might even have more soil than grass . It ’s really important to overseed to supplant lost grass .
How long does it take a lawn to recoup after scarifying ?
you’re able to expect your lawn to recover and show seeable melioration within 4 - 6 week after scarifying . But , even though scarifying has a long - terminal figure retrieval clip , the reward pay off ! Remember , your lawn will regain faster and show even better results if you ’ve overseeded and applied lawn solid food .
How do you acknowledge if a lawn has been scarify ?
When it comes to lawn scarification , the proof is in the pudding . On the left , you may see the lawn before it was scarify . It ’s patchy , uneven in colour and quite dull . On the right , you may see the lawn after it ’s been scarify . The lawn is much healthier , and the colour is brighter and more even !
Why should you scarify your lawn ?
By removing this layer , you cut the risk of fungous diseases and pest infestations . Stimulates Grass Growth : The process of scarifying can invigorate your lawn , encouraging the ontogenesis of new sens shoots and leading to a denser , greener lawn . Reduces Weed and Moss Growth : Scarifying can help control the increase of weeds and moss .