Best Lawn Scarifiers in 2024

Best Lawn Scarifier UK

There are great benefits in scarifying your lawn in the long term but it can make it look a mess following treatment. it Is done because it makes the grass thicker, healthier and makes for a well-kept garden.

Scarifying is a process in which a tool is used to remove moss and thatch from the top of your grass. The idea is that the unwanted material on top of your garden makes the movement of nutrients and oxygen to your grass harder. Removing it allows the grass to breathe and grow and ultimately more grass seeds are planted giving a fuller, less weedy lawn.

There are variations of scarifiers on the market, you could opt for a simple garden rake or a manual scarifier with wheels if you want to do it by hand. Though many gardens are quite big and it can be a tough job by hand, so we recommend using an electric scarifier for small to medium gardens and a petrol scarifier for larger gardens.

Below we have compiled a list of our top 10 picks of every type of scarifier, allowing you to make an informed choice when you buy. Many contain an aerator feature, this is where it cuts the soil to make it less compact so it can breathe again for better growth.

The Flymo Lawnrake sports a 750-watt motor which is more than capable of removing all the dead grass and moss in your garden. It has a 34cm rake width and a large 34 litre collection box so you don’t have to empty it too often. It also has a window on the back so you can see how full it is without constantly stopping to check. It has 6 rake heights ranging from -5mm to +8mm adjustable by a lever so you can clean leaves and debris or break the surface. The lawnrake weights 12.6Kg and can be folded down with a height of only 46cm you can store it away easily. It may be worth throwing down some moss killer to fertilise your garden whilst also removing any unwanted growth whilst you can get it right in the ground.

The VonHaus 2 in 1 lawn scarifier and aerator has a massive 1500-watt motor making it ideal for very mossy and thick untouched lawns. It has a dual-purpose drum which fits two rollers, one for aerating and one for scarifying which are easily interchangeable. The collection box has a capacity of 28 litre giving you a decent amount of space before emptying. The cable spans 10 metres and the machine weighs 9.9kg in total. It has 4 working depths so you can clear above the ground or break into the surface. Vonhaus 2 in 1 also includes a 2-year warranty incase anything goes wrong. Whilst you temporarily ruin your garden, consider a greenhouse heater to keep your proud plants growing healthy.

The Bosch AVT has a good 1100-watt motor making it effective in clearing any lawn with its steel blades. It has a massive 50 litre collection box so it will need emptying far less than many others on this list. The steel blades have a working width of 32cm and have 4 adjustable height settings for a range of +5, 0, -5 and -10. While the adjustable heights allow it to act as a scarifier and aerator. It features a powerful ‘jet collect system’ which works to collect more material than other scarifiers, though it has been known to fill up a lot faster that others since it does a fine job. The Bosch AVT is lightweight at only 9.9Kg and despite its larger appearance a foldable handle and a stackable collection box allows compaction to only 40cm high for easy storage.

The lawn raker from BLACK+DECKER has a smaller 600W motor and is suitable for small to medium sized lawns. It has a raking working width of 30cm and features 3 adjustable height settings so you can adjust relevant to the job. It has a capacity of 30 litres giving a decent storage before you have to empty and it is quite easy to see how full it is without detaching the collection box. The BLACK+DECKER has a safety switch which will cut the power to the motor as soon as you let go of the handle which is great in emergencies. The cable is a decent 10 metres long and the machine overall weighs only 7Kg and folds for convenient storage. If you’re redoing your garden consider some exterior wood paint to make everything a little nicer and brighter.

The 2 in 1 petrol lawnrake/scarifier from AL-KO has a powerful 1300-watt motor great for medium to large gardens. It has a massive working width of 38cm and a five-stage working depth adjustment changeable by a lever on the side. Changing from the lawnrake to the scarifier drum without need for tools makes for easy swapping when needed. It has a massive 55 litre collection bag so you won’t need to empty it regularly. Being petrol there is no limit to the distance it can traverse before having to move the plug, making it great for larger gardens though the engine can be difficult to start at times. The AL-KO comfort 38P weights a hefty 20Kg since it has a petrol engine, whilst its electric counter-part still weighs 14Kg and the folded height is 38cm for easy storage.

The Bosch ALR Electric Lawn Raker looks pretty much the same as the Bosch AVT 1100 Verti-cutter, it has a slightly lower price tag and a slightly smaller motor at 900W. It is great for medium sizes gardens with the same ‘jet collect system’ feature which increases the rate of collection as it passes over your lawn. It has a 32cm working width and 4 adjustable raking heights rankings from +10mm down to -5mm dependent on the job. It has a 50-litre collection bag which is more than ample space before having to empty. It weighs a decently light 11Kg, has a 2-year guarantee and is 39cm tall when folded for easy storage. Once grown back use your cordless strimmer to clear up the edges or untouched parts.

The first manual scarifier on our list is the Wolf Garten Multi-Change URM3, ideal for anyone who wants to do it manually and ideal for a smaller lawn. It works by a pendulum action in that the blades glide over the lawn when pushing and cuts into the thatch and moss when pulling giving it an advantage over a standard rake. It has a decent working width of 30cm for thick thatch but remember the tougher it is the tougher your job will be. It weighs only 2kg, though the only time you will be lifting it is to move it, not during. It has a 10-year guarantee and makes an ideal scarifier for those opting for the manual method. It doesn’t come with a handle but can be used with 11 different handles available in the range along with 50 other tool heads.

This dual purpose scarifier and aerator, the Einhell 1231 has an electric 1200-watt motor ideal for medium sized lawns. The blades are easily interchangeable dependant on the job where the scarifier spike drum has eight double blades and the aerator has 42 claws. The machine has three adjustable depths which you can select by a lever and a parking position to stop. It has a 28-litre collection bag which is one of the smallest on our list so you should expect to empty it fairly often. It weights a light 10Kg and when folded is only 43cm high for efficient and easy storage. The wire is a standard 10 metres so you have a fairly good distance before having to move the plug or use an extension cable. Once finished temporarily ruining your garden get a nice chiminea to go with your thick grass.

The final manual scarifier on our list is the Darlac lawn scarifier for a cheaper alternative to motor machines making them only ideal for smallish gardens. It has a telescopic handle which has a simple twist lock mechanism which ranges from 97cm to 1.5m creating a comfortable working height for anyone. It has 11 blades for good clearance of thatch and moss though unlike the other manual on our list it does not have a pendulum feature so pushing it will dig into the lawn making it less easy to use. It weighs only 1.9Kg and is ideal for someone looks for a cheap standard manual scarifier, though personal I feel the Wolf Garten is better and holds a similar price. When your garden is all done consider items such as a cantilever parasol to really spruce up the aesthetic of your home.

If you need a scarifier and aerator for a medium to large lawn look no further than the Einhell GE-SA petrol scarifier/aerator. It has a powerful 4 stroke engine, 1300-watt motor and a 1 litre petrol tank making it ideal for a lawn up to 1000 metres square. Like the other Einhell on our list the rollers are easily interchangeable in which the scarifier has 20 stainless steel blades and the aerator has 26 claws. It has 3 adjustable height settings to suit different growths and conditions. The bag holds up to 28L which is quite small for a petrol scarifier especially when its designed for a big lawn though it’s not the end of the world. It weighs 18Kg and when folded has a height of 46cm for easy storage. Finish up the edges with some edging shears.