Hand-helds are only a viable option for small lawns. Anything over 30 square meters and not only will you punish yourself but the job will take forever. Electric Scarifiers It is powered by an easy to start 212cc 4-stroke engine which provides enough power for fast and efficient lawn raking and de-thatching. Bosch is a brand that just about everyone is familiar with. I’ve personally used several Bosch products across my garden and home and have always been happy with how they have performed. It has five heights to choose from, along with a 38cm working width, which is wider than all of the other scarifiers I tested. The height of the handles is adjustable too, or you can easily fold them down if you need to store the machine.

Turn the machine on and the scarifier will continue to impress. I started off at the highest setting before working my way lower, and I was very pleased with the results. It pulled out a fantastic amount of thatch but didn’t damage healthy grass too much – it wasn’t quite as brutal as the Einhell scarifier I tested. Verticutting is a type of scarification which involves removing moss and lawn thatch as well as discouraging the growth of shallow rooting weed grasses and creeping weeds. For this reason, I think it’s a great machine if you want a scarifier at a budget-friendly price; however, consider another option if the aerating function is also important to you. You’ll probably have to spend a bit more to get a machine that’s a better all-rounder. In addition to scarifying, the lawn should be aired regularly. Some of our machines are already equipped with an aerator roller in addition to the included scarifier roller. Unlike scarifying, aeration is possible more often throughout the year, so that the green remains fresh for longer. In technical terms, this process is called 'aeration'.

Choosing the Best Lawn Scarifier For Your Garden

The Bosch Universal Lawn Rake 900 is a popular choice in the world of electric scarifiers, despite being higher priced than its competitors, and I was excited to find out why! The Bosch UniversalRake 900 in action The new Combi Care Comfort 38E offers the benefits of great looking and green lawns, dual purpose aerator or scarifier drums means that you can easily change the function of the machine to suit the job in hand. Whether raking out thatch and moss or intensive care, aerating the lawn becomes easy with this durable machine. Derek has real-world tested 61 products for DIY Garden, and is one of our most experienced testers. If you really want to get it right in terms of scarifying your lawn, you should consider the Einhell GE-SC 35 Li Solo Power X-Change Cordless Scarifier. This machine is powered by two 18-volt lithium-ion batteries so that you can experience smooth operations at all times. It comes with a brushless motor, which guarantees extended motor life and optimum performance. It has a ball-bearing spike drum, which comes with 16 blades made of stainless steel. Step 7 – for new start, longer non-operational periods or temperatures below 10 degrees, press the 2 primer buttons on the side of the machine.

With cordless garden tools colonising garden sheds around the country, AL-KO has added the SF 4036 battery-powered lawn scarifier to its EnergyFlex range to form part of your lawncare routine. A brand that has built its reputation on quality and innovation, AL-KO garden products are a favourite among both domestic and professional users. They usually go above and beyond their competition in more ways than one, so I had high hopes for their Combi Care 38E Electric Lawn Rake and Scarifier. Scarifying with the AL-KO The Bosch scarifier also comes with a collection box, rather than a bag. Not only was this hard, plastic box much more robust than the fabric bags that most other scarifiers come with, but, at 50 litres, it was almost double the size too. The large collection box saves you from having to stop to empty quite as often.Scarifying is, simply explained, more intensive aeration, whereby the sward of grass is also scarified. This loosens the soil even more and allows it to regenerate wonderfully. For less strain and greater comfort, the handles can be adjusted to the ideal height for the operator. It also makes the unit more compact and easy to store when not in use. Bosch is a trustworthy brand when you are looking for one of the best lawn scarifiers. Bosch AVR 1100 uses a 1100W motor to give you the desired results so that you can trust the brand even more. Now, you might think; is this power is sufficient to deal with thatches and weeds? Yes, its strong vertical blades go deep into the soil without much effort. Looking for a powered scarifier on a budget? The VonHaus 2-in-1 Scarifier and Aerator is the machine for you. Much cheaper than the Bosch model but still available with a 2 year warranty.

Large wheels are very efficient when you need to cover a rough lawn. It’s the reason GC-SA 1231/1 comes with comparatively bigger wheels, covers difficult lawn and places minimal stress on the soil. The machine has a collection bag worth 28 litres. With all the power and features, the scarifier covers an area up to 300 m2. It has a long handle, which you can fold after the maintenance session is over. If you need a scarifier for larger areas, we recommend theAL-KO Combi Care 38 E Comfort electric scarifier Whether raking out thatch and moss or more intensive care, aerating the lawn becomes easy with this durable machine. The machine is fitted with a quality AL-KO engine, suitable for medium to large sized gardens. You can buy the AL-KO Combi Care 38 P Comfort petrol scarifier from our online webshop or from one of our AL-KO specialist dealers near you.If you need a scarifier for smaller areas, we recommend the AL-KO 36 V SF 4036 cordless scarifier. Medium-sized gardens with an existing power supply would be suitable for an AL-KO 38 E Comfort electric scarifierwhich also includes the 55 L debris collector and the lawn rake roller. Warranty period

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Scarifiers do require a bit of user effort. They need to be manhandled around corners and can feel a bit lively sometimes too. See here for advice on how to use a lawn scarifier. What’s more, its plastic housing is impact-resistant, and that is why you can work without experiencing too much vibration. It weighs just 9.74 kilograms making it manoeuvre as easy as ABC during operations. With an estimated run time of 15 minutes when you use a 3.0 Ah battery, this machine makes it possible for you to get the most satisfactory result. Some, however, (the ones that I recommend) come with interchangeable cassettes. A wire cassette for raking out moss and a blade cassette for scarifying or de-thatching.

The AL-KO 38P Combi Care offers the benefits of the 38E model, but with the additional benefit of a petrol engine. The 38P features the same dual purpose aerator & scarifier cassette system as the 38E, meaning you can easily change the function of the machine to suit the job in hand. The made difference is that verticutters have more blades and don’t cut as deeply as a traditional scarifier. The benefits are that this type of machine is gentler on your lawn which means it can be used year round. The height-adjustable handlebar allowsfatigue-free working and easy operation. Inaddition, the machine can be stored easily. Safety features are usually pretty standard across domestic electric scarifiers. This model comes with all of the usuals, from its bright orange, 12m cable that can easily be seen in the grass (this was the longest cable length of all the scarifiers I tested) to the safety button that needs to be pressed before the trigger can be pulled to turn the machine on. Gardeners usually scarify their lawn in spring to refresh it after the cold season. This should be done again in autumn. Especially if the winter before was particularly hard. In this way, the lawn will once again receive the necessary nutrients to survive the next winter well.The other function of a lawn scarifier is to aerate the soil. It does this by piercing down into the lawn’s surface. Four height adjustments are possible which range from +5mm to -10mm in conjunction with 14 pivoting blades.