Manual scarifier

bellyshere

Attempted to have a go at my thatchy rubbishy lawn this evening with a plastic rake. 45 mins later tonnes of thatch and managed about a ten foot patch. Blisters and knackered. Don't want to buy an electric one as i don't mind a bit of work and i have a horrid record with electric garden tools. There seem to be lot of cheap manual roller types about but i'd prefer something a bit better quality. Any recommendations?

Plantminded

A metal spring tine rake would be more effective for removing moss - plastic rakes have less resistance and are ideal for leaf clearance.

bellyshere

Plantminded said:

A metal spring tine rake would be more effective for removing moss - plastic rakes have less resistance and are ideal for leaf clearance.

I had a go with the metal spring rake but it seemed to be ripping up too much or is that what is needed? That still seems like really hard work as well. My lawn is about 50 or 60 foot long and 30 foot wide.

Plantminded

Yes, it is hard work @bellyshere!  It's best to work a small area, stop when you've had enough and work on another area another day.  Some of the inexpensive electric scarifiers are really effective, much easier, why not have another go with developing your electric power tool skills?!

Pete.8

Mine looks like this after an electric scarifier - bare patches of soil and thatch.
I didn't have any moss in the lawn.
It soon comes back

bellyshere

Plantminded said:

Yes, it is hard work @bellyshere!  It's best to work a small area, stop when you've had enough and work on another area another day.  Some of the inexpensive electric scarifiers are really effective, much easier, why not have another go with developing your electric power tool skills?!

I'll stick manual. It's not just electric tools that hate me. Petrol lawn mowers hate me as well.

bellyshere

Pete.8 said:

Mine looks like this after an electric scarifier - bare patches of soil and thatch.
I didn't have any moss in the lawn.
It soon comes back

Yeah mine doesn't have much moss either. Just years of thatch and not doing anything other than mowing occasionally. I try to only mow every 4 or 5 weeks and don't mind leaving the clover patches for the bees.

Plantminded

Have you used a moss killer on your lawn as yet?  It will be much easier to remove when it is blackened and not clinging to the surrounding grass and thatch. You need to follow the instructions carefully and get the dosage correct  - sorry if I'm telling you something you already know!

bellyshere

Plantminded said:

Have you used a moss killer on your lawn as yet?  It will be much easier to remove when it is blackened and not clinging to the surrounding grass and thatch. You need to follow the instructions carefully and get the dosage correct  - sorry if I'm telling you something you already know!

It hasn’t got much moss in it as far as I can tell and I don’t use any chemical killers at all in my garden. 

Tack

We have this Wolf-Garten head attachment with a pole handle which is part of one of their telescopic tools. It calls itself a moss remover but takes out the thatch too. I note they also do one without wheels . Hard work still but better than a rake .And it does look like the lawn is wrecked but not for long.

bellyshere

Tack said:

We have this Wolf-Garten head attachment with a pole handle which is part of one of their telescopic tools. It calls itself a moss remover but takes out the thatch too. I note they also do one without wheels . Hard work still but better than a rake .And it does look like the lawn is wrecked but not for long.

Yeah that sort of thing looks easier. Thanks.