[sandygreen]

I normally scarify the lawn at this time of the year but as it has been so dry (I am in East Anglia and it is pretty dry most of the time!) I wondered whether I should scarify or not as some of the grass has died due to the weather.  I don't want to pull up grass that will grow back if it rains, although presumably if it has died it isn't going to grow back!

Also, I have such a lot of weed in the front lawn that I put down Verdune, which has killed a lot of them off.  I would also like to put weed and feed down when we do get some rain.  After the massacre of the weeds there will be lots of blank spaces so will need to put some grass seed down but not sure when would be the best time for that.  How long after all this weedkiller can I put down grass seed?

[gazza975526570]

Well i did mine recently and to be honest wish i hadnt as it looks dreadfull!!!

Think its due to the dry weather so new grass hasnt grown.

However in another few weeks it should look ok again

(i always think this when i scarify though i think!!!)

[sion01]

I'm no expert but Id guess the grass is under enough stress already and if it's really dry you could pull out the grass by the roots.I'd get a deck chair,a bottle of chilled cider(or four) a wide brimmed hat and sit in the chair looking for rain clouds.But as I said i'm no expert.

[sandygreen]

Thanks very much - in the interests of my lawn you have managed to talk me out of it, although I think I will have to replace the chilled cider with white wine but otherwise everything else sounds spot on. 

If it ever does rain again, when could I scarify or should I just leave it now until the autumn?

[Goosegirl]

I always thought that you should scarify in the autumn because grass produces tillers at that time and it helps them to thicken up over winter for the next year - forget the proper reasoning.

[arugula]

Scarifying is best done in the spring as it leaves gaps and in the autumn moss would tend to populate these instead of grass which isn't growing by then. In the spring, grass will regrow. I wouldn't weed and feed if you are going to seed, can you not dig out some of the worst broad-leaved weeds and then seed? (We did this last spring ). Grass seed should be going down now, well watered if isn't going to rain.

[sandygreen]

Will just have to wait and see what happens weatherwise I think.  Will also wait for the weedkiller to go and have a try at putting down some grass seed and see what happens.

Thanks for all the advice

[Goosegirl]

Scarifying is best done in the spring as it leaves gaps and in the autumn moss would tend to populate these instead of grass which isn't growing by then. In the spring, grass will regrow. I wouldn't weed and feed if you are going to seed, can you not dig out some of the worst broad-leaved weeds and then seed? (We did this last spring ). Grass seed should be going down now, well watered if isn't going to rain.

Interesting Argyllie - but I have to gently disagree. According to Hessayon book, autumn (September) scarifying stimulates these grass side-shoots and also runners which are only produced at this time of year. Yes - the grass will be growing more slowly, but it still grows at temps above 4C. If you use moss killer first, them the moss shouldn't be too much of a problem. If you scarify in spring, the bare patches could get taken over by weeds which will be more active then - just my opinion.

[arugula]

And the world would be a dull place if we all agreed all of the time!

[Goosegirl]

That's what makes gardening interesting and stimulating. Also, what works for some doesn't work for others and there's no obvious reason. Thanks for that, Argyllie.

[arugula]

Wise words Goosegirl.

[mrs bouquet]

Scarifying is best done in the spring as it leaves gaps and in the autumn moss would tend to populate these instead of grass which isn't growing by then. In the spring, grass will regrow. I wouldn't weed and feed if you are going to seed, can you not dig out some of the worst broad-leaved weeds and then seed? (We did this last spring ). Grass seed should be going down now, well watered if isn't going to rain.

Interesting Argyllie - but I have to gently disagree. According to Hessayon book, autumn (September) scarifying stimulates these grass side-shoots and also runners which are only produced at this time of year. Yes - the grass will be growing more slowly, but it still grows at temps above 4C. If you use moss killer first, them the moss shouldn't be too much of a problem. If you scarify in spring, the bare patches could get taken over by weeds which will be more active then - just my opinion.

I have always scarified in Autumn, so I have to gently disagree with Argyllie as well.  Maybe it has to do with different weather climates .  It does help the lawn if you gently rake it though, with a tine rake.  Mrs Bouquet

[Ice]

I'm going to disagree with argyllie just because I feel like it.

[stompy]

Well i disagree with all of you and i don't even have grass. 

[JayG]

I'm going to disagree with all of you who disagree with Argyllie! 

I borrowed an electric scarifyer a few years ago and went over the lawn about six times, but found I got as much "stuff" out of it the sixth time as the first, so gave up!

(I then made the mistake of trying to compost the huge pile of mossy, grassy stuff; after over a year it was sort of dead but also sort of not rotted!)