On older rolled turf, a dense turf sometimes develops, which appears spongy and soft when wet. At the same time, the lawn loses its rich green color and becomes mossy. High time to scarify the finished lawn. Here's how to do it right.

Scarifying once a year is enough - step-by-step instructions

The drastic method of scarifying a matted turf only comes into consideration when all other care measures have failed. Choose a dry, overcast day in April/May or September/October. Proceed as follows to comb out all unwanted growths from ready-made lawn:

  • Mow the dry lawn to a cutting height of 3 centimetres
  • Depending on the degree of matting, scarify the finished lawn 5 to 10 millimeters deep
  • Remove all combed material from the area
  • Finally, sand, roll and water the turf

Immediately after scarifying, the finished lawn is particularly receptive to reseeding. Experienced hobby gardeners therefore sow fresh lawn seeds before rolling and watering. The aerated turf receives the next fertilizer after 14 days at the earliest. You should only mow for the first time after scarifying when the grass has reached a height of 8 centimeters.

This is an effective way to prevent matting in the rolled turf

Ready-made turf recovers only slowly from the intensive intervention of scarifying. So that you do not feel compelled to take this measure in the first place, the following preventive care is important:

  • Lime the turf immediately if the pH falls below 5.5
  • Do not administer any nitrogen-stressed slow-release fertilizer
  • Activate soil life with organic fertilizers
  • Don't attack weeds and moss with chemicals
  • Thoroughly sweep away the leaves in the fall

In particular, avoid frequent watering in small amounts. In summer drought, a two-time penetrating sprinkling is much better for the turf. As a result, the noble grasses root deep in the ground, so that moss and felt don't stand a chance.

tips and tricks

Leaving the clippings on the lawn after mowing does not necessarily lead to the formation of thatch. On the contrary, with young, leafy grasses, a thin layer of grass clippings serves as a valuable mulch, which makes the additional application of fertilizer superfluous.

GTH

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Garden design