{"id":1114,"date":"2020-02-26T14:55:14","date_gmt":"2020-02-26T14:55:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gardendad.co.uk\/?p=1114"},"modified":"2020-02-27T22:06:30","modified_gmt":"2020-02-27T22:06:30","slug":"best-lawn-raker-scarifier","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gardendad.co.uk\/best-lawn-raker-scarifier\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is The Best Lawn Raker On The UK Market?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Of all the tools a homeowner needs, a lawn raker has to be the most basic equipment to have around the home. To understand why lawn rakers (or scarifiers if you want) are so important, we need to start from the beginning.<\/p>\n

In a healthy lawn, it\u2019s completely normal to find some dead plants and grass among the live greenery. This dead grass, roots and moss<\/a> accumulate to form a thatch which can grow to a few centimetres thick.<\/p>\n

Soon enough, the thatch will obstruct the intake of air and water to the roots which will in turn will inhibit the growth of new healthy grass shoots. Before you know it, your once well manicured lawn will be nothing but a patchy shadow of itself.<\/p>\n

Raking your lawn regularly is an easy technique used by gardeners to maintain award wining lawns and backyards. For this, we use power rakers or scarifiers which are mower like devices used for efficient removal and collection of thatch.<\/p>\n

Using a lawn raker machine is much easier today compared to manual scarification with handrakes. Once a lawn has been raked, fresh grass can have ample space, air and nutrients to grow into a bustling lawn.<\/p>\n

When looking for the best lawn raker, it\u2019s important to consider the power source. Petrol powered lawn rakes are more suited for handling larger, wilder lawns while electric models are lighter and quieter for small to medium lawnwork.<\/p>\n

Similarly, it helps to choose a machine with an aerator so you can kill two birds with one stone. And if space in the shed is at a premium, you can choose a model that stores easily. A large collection box also means fewer trips to the compost and more time out in the field.<\/p>\n

After long hours of intensive scarification on different grass types, lengths, and locations, we\u2019ve compiled a list of the best lawn rakers in the UK market so you can make an informed decision on which unit suits your preferences best.<\/p>\n

Lawn Raker Vs Scarifier Vs Aerator<\/h2>\n

If there\u2019s a group of gardening tools that have people confused, it\u2019s these three right here. But let\u2019s get a few facts straight before we begin \u2013 There\u2019s no difference between today\u2019s range of scarifiers and lawn rakers. It\u2019s just that when people refer to rakes, they mean those simple, long, light leaf rakes operated manually.<\/p>\n

However, modern lawn rakers are mower-like machines complete with dozens of accessories and functionalities. People in the UK refer to these lawn rakers as scarifiers because, well, we invented the language and will play with it as we see fit.<\/p>\n

But for purposes of this article, we will use the terms scarifier and lawn raker as interchangeable. So, what exactly is the difference between a lawn raker and aerator?<\/p>\n

a. Aeration<\/h3>\n

This is one of the simplest and least demanding lawn care techniques of them all. It is a completely different process from scarifying, but it also plays a significant part towards improving the health of your lawn.<\/p>\n

As the name suggests, aeration involves poking plenty of holes into the soil all over your lawn. This is done to allow fertilizers, water, and air to penetrate more easily through the thatch and into the soil where they can all be easily absorbed into the root system. Aeration is most commonly done early on in the spring or fall when the lawns are still as not heavily compacted.<\/p>\n

Most tools meant for lawn aeration typically include long spikes which can either be smooth or cored for pulling out dirt and turf. But unlike scarifiers which pick up after themselves, aerators are simple and usually leave everything either under or on the lawn surface to decompose naturally, or for you clean up.<\/p>\n

b. Scarifiers<\/h3>\n

Lawnrakers or scarifyers involve more intense lawn care. These machines dig into the grass and create slits through your lawn to remove decaying, organic matter beneath the newly shooting live grass.<\/p>\n

This is a crucial part of dedicated lawn care since allowing the thatch to accumulate could lead to a dilapidated yard. Thick layers of thatch tend to block out air and nutrients to the root system which can choke out new growth and undermine the health of your lawn.<\/p>\n

How do you know you have a thatch problem? Lawns with an undergrowth and thatch problem tend to feel excessively bouncy and springy. And if you try to look through the grass and into the soil, all you see is a confounding mess of dried grass, moss and decaying plant matter.<\/p>\n

Of course, it\u2019s entirely possible to scarify your lawn with a handheld rake. But this is a very labour intensive job that is also inefficient as well since you are unlikely to remove enough thatch. Mechanical lawn rakers offer an easier, faster and more accurate way to detach large areas.<\/p>\n

Lawn rakers use curved blades or sprung tines to clear out deeply embedded thatch and organic matter from below the surface without hurting the surface grass. What\u2019s more, some machines even come with spikes to aerate the lawn and a collection bag to make quick work of the removed thatch.<\/p>\n

The Best Lawn Raker Reviews<\/h2>\n

1. BEST OVERALL: Bosch AVR 1100 Verti Cutter Lawn Raker<\/h3>\n<\/a>\n
CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON -><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n

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Here\u2019s a solid German entry that excels at every single aspect of lawn raking. Combining high performance technologies with a fair price range, the AVR 1100 Verti Cutter Lawn Raker from Bosch is a well rounded cordless model with a few more practical features than your average Joe. This includes a power packed 1100 watt Powerdrive motor for more torque to deal with especially tangled thatch lawns.<\/p>\n

Bosch incorporated 14 tough 32cm width steel blades attached to a cylindrical drum. The drum uses a Jet collection system to quickly blow up all the dead vegetation and thatch into the practical, large 50-litre sized collection box. Another feature worth noting is the space-saving design which allows the Verti Cutter to fold to about 1\/3 of its size for easy storage.<\/p>\n

What I like about it:<\/h4>\n