Commercial Scarification.
Anyone who has experienced a season of outdoor sport, such as football, rugby or cricket will be familiar with the fibrous layer of dead grass roots, stems and runners which build up over the course of a playing season, commonly known as thatch.
Without proper care this buildup of thatch can make it difficult for the grass beneath to receive key nutrients needed to grow, and the field can become patchy. Therefore, it is important for the future health of your grass to manage this and not leave it to sit.
To remove thatch and reduce damage to the grass we use a scarifier. Its rake-like teeth remove thatch, moss and debris directly from the top surface, leaving room for the grass to thrive and grow. Scarifying your pitches, lawns, fields or cricket squares is a great way to ensure that your grass will continue to grow well and look healthy year on year.
Commercial grass scarification in Kent
Landscape Services have been specialists of both grounds maintenance and sports facilities maintenance for over 80 years. We have maintained numerous open spaces, fields, sports pitches and lawns for our customers – schools and academies, local authorities and site owners, etc. - and have undertaken thousands of scarification treatment plans on their behalf.
Our extensive range of scarifying and lawn care equipment enables us to provide a full 360 service throughout the year. From soil preparation, seeding and restoration to treatment schedules and aftercare, our experienced team can develop bespoke service packages designed around your pitch, lawn or field, to ensure you have full use of your open spaces all year-round.
Landscape Services operate from four depot locations in Maidstone, Ashford, Broadstairs and Tonbridge, and cover Kent and the surrounding areas; contact us today to arrange a site visit with a member of our team.
What is grass scarification?
As grass grows and propagates, it doesn’t always grow straight up as a blade of grass. Often one shoot can branch into several ‘offshoots’ which run above and below the soil and help to spread or knit the grass for a thicker yield.
Over time new healthy shoots are propagated to replace these, whilst the older parent shoots will slowly decay and harden underneath – their job done. It is this which causes a thatch build up, a process which happens much quicker when the field itself is being extensively used, as with a sports pitch.
Our commercial scarifiers – also sometimes referred to as a dethatchers – are large mechanical tools which have rows of sharp, rotating ‘teeth’ and tines. These tines are used to strip the top layer of thatch from grass, allowing more air, water and nutrients to feed down into the soil and encourage a healthier pitch. Our experienced grounds maintenance operatives are specialists in the care and maintenance of sports pitches, fields and lawns, and can advise on everything from best seasonal requirements, weather conditions and equipment for scarification and ensure your thatch is stripped with minimal damage to the grass and soil beneath.
Why is grass scarification Important?
In some instances having a thin layer of thatch on your pitch can be a good thing; it acts in a similar way to mulch by preventing moisture in the soil from evaporating into the air.
Eventually though, thatch will reach a thickness which begins to suffocate the soil beneath and prohibits air, water and other nutrients from reaching the root system. That in turn can create several problems for your pitch or lawn, including:
- Higher risk of disease or pests - The moist, compact nature of thatch makes it the perfect space for mosses, lichens and fungal diseases to grow. These can attract pests and create problems for the grass if left untreated.
- Patchy or shallow grass - In its attempt to access the nutrients it needs to survive, grass can sometimes choose to root itself directly into the layer of thatch. This is not ideal for two main reasons; firstly, as mentioned above thatch can be a breeding ground for pests and disease. The other reason is that when thatch is eventually removed a large part of your grass root system will come along with it, meaning a much longer process to get your grass lush again.
- Dry, dormant or dead grass - As much as thatch draws moisture, its fibrous texture dries out quickly in warm, dry weather. This drought can threaten the grass growing both within and beneath the thatch as it soaks up whatever moisture it can from the soil. In best case scenario your grass will become dormant; worst case it dies.
When should I scarify my lawn?
We encourage our customers to undertake light scarification both before and after a playing season; in spring and autumn;
- Scarification should ideally be scheduled for when the grass is growing well and evenly, as this will limit the number of weeds coming back once thatch has been removed. We might also recommend a pre-scarification treatment plan to rid the grass of existing weeds and moss and avoid it spreading. If your grass is slow growing it may be too early in the spring, which will affect recovery time.
- For later in the year scarification is best completed in early autumn to give the grass enough time to recover before the colder winter months. Colder weather can create further damage which will lengthen the time it takes to get the pitch season-ready, and may encourage disease or moss to spread.
Over-scarification can also cause considerable damage to your lawn, which is why we monitor the requirements of each field on a case-by-case basis and adapt our scheduling to ensure you’re getting the best care package.
Scarification is an intensive process and the results can appear drastic at first sight, particularly when done for the first time or after a long period without it. However, once recovered, and with correct fertilising and overseeding, your fields and pitches will grow thicker and healthier.