October is the ‘last opportunity’ to do essential lawn care job

Autumn is the best time to scarify a lawn order and this is an essential gardening job in order to keep your grass in its best condition.  Scarifying is the simple gardening method for

removing dead moss and dead organic material also known as thatch (the brown found you may find in your mower blades).  Michael Griffiths, a gardening expert has warned that October is the

“last opportunity” for gardeners to properly scarify their lawns this year before the first frost begins and may be an essential job for some gardeners to prioritise this autumn.  While

thatch can be good for your lawn in small batches, if it overpopulates up in your grass it can damage your soil as it can prevent light, water, and nutrients from getting to your plant

roots. Too much moss in a lawn can also water-clog the soil and make it more likely that plant or flower diseases as well as pests to make an appearance in an order.  In a video online,

Michael explained: “Over time the base of a lawn becomes congested with thatching moss which inhibits airflow around the plants. “  READ MORE: BEST TIME TO STOP MOWING YOUR LAWN DEPENDS ON

YOUR GRASS TYPE HOW TO SCARIFY A LAWN BY HAND Michael, who goes by the @themediterraneangardener on social media, has explained that there is an easy way to scarify a lawn only using a

garden rake.  To begin, make sure you properly mow your lawn, as according to Michael it will “make the whole process easier.” Michael explained: “When you are finished, using a flexible

spring tine rake, gently pull the rake back multiple times while crisscrossing your way over the lawn.” As you rake, you will soon notice brown and grassy material piling up as well as moss.

Make sure to gently rake it in order to not damage the lawn. Make sure to leave a small amount of thatch on your lawn as a thin layer can help protect grass.  HOW TO TAKE CARE OF A LAWN

AFTER SCARIFYING IT Once you have completely scarifed a lawn, make sure to take the thatch and add it to your compost heap.  Next, make sure to properly aerate a lawn. Use a garden fork to

press down into the soil and firmly penetrate it multiple times. This will help break up compacted soil to allow more air, nutrients, and water to get into the ground.  You can now seed your

lawn and add a fertiliser to give it an extra boost and help it become green and protected over winter time.