It takes more than regular mowing and fertilizing to keep your lawn free of moss and weeds. At least once a year, thatch is attacked by a scarifier. Owners of a lawn tractor save themselves the investment in the rarely used garden tool and simply build a lawn groomer themselves. These ideas would like to inspire you to convert your ride-on mower into a scarifier on your own.
With a little skill, a lawn tractor can be transformed into a scarifier
Inspirations for self-made scarifiers - looking over the shoulders of inventors
The vernacular describes the scarifier (€84.00) aptly as a lawn harrow. Comparable to the hair comb for horses and pets, a scarifier combs the lawn with spikes, tines or short knives to remove moss and weeds. At the same time, the soil is scratched a few millimeters deep so that additional oxygen can reach the lawn roots. The performance range of the lawn tractor is expanded to include this function, resourceful inventors have come up with the following solutions:
- Wire mesh with welded tines
- Extend the wooden frame or slatted frame with spare springs from a power rake
- Supplement lawn roller with spikes on clamps (metal rings)
- Use used seed harrows or disused meadow drags from agriculture as scarifiers
All homemade models have a device for attaching to the ride-on mower, such as a chain or a strong rope. It is important to note that tines, springs or spikes cannot penetrate deeper than 5 mm into the soil in order to protect the lawn. Otherwise, damage to the valuable noble grasses is inevitable.
Build in winter - use in spring
The peaceful winter time is ideal for building a scarifier for the lawn tractor yourself. Since work in the garden is kept to a minimum, you can calmly browse the internet for cheap components and realize your design ideas.
The self-made lawn harrow is ready for the start of the gardening season, because April is the best time to free the lawn from moss and weeds.
tips
In order to achieve maximum success with your self-made scarifier, first drive the lawn tractor over the lawn without the mechanical extension. By mowing the moss-covered green area at the lowest level beforehand, you increase the effectiveness of the subsequent combing out of moss and weeds.