Lawns endure a great deal during the winter months thanks to the wet and cold conditions. Despite good intentions, gardeners can inadvertently make matters worse but doing too much, too soon.
While some preparation can be done ahead of the warmer weather to help the lawn look its best in spring and summer, some tasks should be postponed. According to the gardening experts at Fantastic Gardeners, scarifying is a lawn task that benefits the grass, but undertaking it in winter is a big mistake.
Scarifying is the process of removing thatch, moss, and debris from a lawn to improve aeration and promote healthier grass growth. But, performing it out of season may result in the lawn either “not recovering at all” or facing “more problems”, reports the Express.
The experts warned: “Winter scarifying must be avoided at all costs! The months from November to February are very cold and you may kill your grass off completely if you attempt any sort of raking during that period.
“The grass stops growing and goes dormant. Exposing your soil to the harsh weather may cause it to suffer from frost heave and a moss invasion.”
While the higher temperatures and sunshine in March may be tempting, the soil is still too cold from the winter months and requires more time. However, March is still an excellent month to begin planning and preparing for scarifying.
The months of June, July, and August are always too hot and dry, with drought slowing down grass recovery and scarifying leaving it susceptible to the heat. Experts have issued a warning, stating that if neglected: “Your grass will look poorly, dry beyond saving and the chance of salvaging is very low.”
When is the ideal time to scarify lawns?
The “perfect time” for this task hinges on specific weather conditions – it shouldn’t be too cold, too hot or too dry.
Light lawn scarification to remove thatch is best done in spring, around April when it starts to warm up. This is because during spring, the growth and recovery rate of your lawn, and all your plants, is at its peak.
If you miss the April window, another good time for light scarifying is in early autumn – late August or early September.