Let Your Lawn Hibernate! Why Scarifying Before Spring Could be a Big Mistake

As winter slowly transitions into spring, many homeowners are eager to revive their dormant lawns after months of chilly weather. While it's natural to want to jump right into lawn care, it's important to resist the urge to scarify too soon.

Scarification is a process that involves removing the buildup of thatch (dead plant material) from your lawn. This is typically done in the spring or autumn when the grass is actively growing and can recover from the process. Scarification helps to improve the overall health of your lawn by allowing more air, water, and nutrients to reach the grass roots.During the winter months, your lawn goes into a state of dormancy to conserve energy and protect itself from the harsh weather conditions. Scarifying before the grass has had a chance to properly come out of dormancy can cause significant damage to the roots, which can lead to patchy, unhealthy growth throughout the growing season.

In addition to damaging the roots scarifying too early can also disrupt the delicate ecosystem that exists within your lawn. A healthy lawn is home to a variety of beneficial organisms, including worms, insects, and microorganisms that work together to keep your grass healthy and thriving. By removing the layer of dead grass and debris too soon you can disrupt this ecosystem and upset the balance of your lawn's natural processes.

A lot of people are scarifying at the moment in the UK and it is far too early- we are still in winter! The grass is still in its dormant phase, and the soil is too wet and cold for effective scarification. Scarifying now will stress the grass plant out and could well kill it. The optimum temperature for grass growth is around 9-12c and daytime temperatures are going to be around 2c this week and we are due harsh night frosts. Soil temperature plays a big part in grass growth too - it needs to warm up before we see any growth. If we compare it to you getting your hair shaved off you would be pretty cold and shocked! 

 It's recommended to wait until later in the spring to scarify when the grass is actively growing,  the sun is out, and the soil has warmed up and dried out a bit. This will allow for more effective scarification and will help your lawn to recover more quickly. Wait until the last frost has gone. You can cut your lawn but make sure you are cutting at higher heights of cut for the time being- probably the highest setting on your cylinder mower. 

Let your lawn hibernate a little longer. With patience and proper care, you'll soon be rewarded with a lush, healthy lawn that's the envy of the neighbourhood.