10 Best Lawn Scarifiers [Buyer Guide]
We review the products we think are best in the category. By purchasing a product through an affiliate link, we may earn a small commission that helps keep the site running. Learn about our product selection process here.
When working on a garden or a lawn, proper care has to be taken, tools should not be misused. The best lawn scarifier is basically used for breaking up matted vegetation on the surface of the lawn, and removing thatch, moss, and other debris from the surface of the lawn or garden. They are sometimes referred to as dethatchers or lawn rakes. Lawn scarifiers are of extreme value for those who have a keen eye for their lawns or gardens as they help keep the lawn neat, healthy, and in generally good shape. On our list of 10 best lawn scarifiers, we would be featuring both electric lawn scarifiers and petrol based lawn scarifiers. The list would also contain scarifiers with either on or two attachments such as lawn aerators and catchers too.
Once you have been able to go through the list, you would be set on your way to making a very good choice for your garden. Many of the Lawn scarifiers on this list are easy to handle and have the very useful feature of retractable or foldable handles. Most of them are also pocket friendly considering their features and benefits. Getting a lawn scarifier just might be the decision that changes your lawns and gardens’ appearances. Making the choice of a garden and lawn scarifier has been made easier for you. The above scarifiers on the list cut across various reputable brands and can be easily accessed via the links provided. If you still have doubts after going through this list, there is a buyer’s guide that would answer questions such as why you need a lawn scarifier, the difference between a lawn scarifier and a lawnmower and other relevant questions. So, if you’re interested in finding out more information about lawn scarifiers – keep on reading!
WOLF-Garten Electric 30CM 1200W Scarifier
The WOLF Garten Electric 30cm 1200w Scarifier is a very effective piece of equipment for the removal of thatch and moss in the garden. It comes equipped with a powered lawn rake. The WOLF Garten Electric 30cm 1200w Scarifier easily opens up turfs and removes thatch and moss that prevent the growth of planted flowers. It has a five-stage depth adjustment, making it much more flexible to use and an adjustable height handlebar. It is lightweight and easy to handle on the garden and its blades are made for the job. A very effective scarifier for a price to match.
Key Features:
Five-stage depth adjustment
Comfortable and convenient foldable handlebar
It has a powered lawn rake attached
Specification:
Brand
Wolf Garten
Dimension
59 x 47 x33 cm
Power Source
Electric
Colour
Red/Yellow
Pros
More value for money with its extra features
It is easy to handle
It gets the job done with ease
Cons
Blades cannot double for mowing lawns
Cobra-SA32Ee Electric-Scarifier And-Aerator-Lawn Raker
The Cobra-SA32Ee Electric-Scarifier And-Aerator-Lawn Raker is a two in one gardening equipment, fitted with a scarifier and an aerator. It is the perfect equipment for fixing up your lawn and garden ground. It easily gets rid of thatch, moss, and debris with speed and also contributes to the strengthening of the roots of garden plants. It is driven by a powerful 1300W motor improving speed and efficiency of the aerator blade. Also included is a debris collector, eliminating the stress of hard cleanup after use on the field. The Cobra-SA32Ee Electric-Scarifier And-Aerator-Lawn Raker is equipped with a depth corrector at the push of a single button. A bonus of a 2-year warranty is provided by the mother company.
Key Features:
It is Equipped with a Powerful 1300W Motor
30L Collector Included
It is Equipped with 4 Operating Heights, range between -9 to +4mm.
Specification:
Brand
Cobra scarifier
Dimension
N/A
Power Source
Corded Electric
Colour
Red
Pros
It is easy to handle and push
It ensures the piece of land worked on is left clean
It helps root development allowing oxygen to reach the roots and is excellent preparation for overseeding
Cons
Instruction manual might be a bit technical to use
It might be too light to operate safely
Bosch ALR Electric Lawn Raker
The Bosch ALR Electric Lawn Raker is an electric lawn scarifier equipped with a 32 cm cutting diameter, and it comes with a powerful 900W high-torque Motor and specially designed raking cylinder. It is specially equipped with an innovative ‘Jet collective’ system and 10 double-wound spring tines. This Electric lawn raker does not only lift surface debris, but it also allows for a free flow of air, creating an increase in the rate of the collection which in turn maximises the raker’s effect on each pass it makes over your lawn. It has a twin adjustment lever for controlling the cutting height of the raker. Its sleek design means it can be easily stored, occupying less space in your workshop.
Key Features:
It is equipped with a powerful 900W high-torque Motor
It is equipped with a novel Jet Collect system
It has a large 50L grass box
Specification:
Brand
Bosch
Dimension
49 x 39 x 60 cm
Power Source
Corded Electric
Colour
Green
Pros
It is easy to handle and use on your lawn
It saves you time in emptying trips with its grass box storage
Its "Jet Collect" system allows it to function more effectively than the average scarifier
Cons
Grass Box is made of plastic that can break if not handled properly
Instruction manual might be a bit technical to follow in setting up the machine
Flymo Lawnrake Compact 3400 Electric Lawnrake
The Flymo Lawnrake Compact 3400 Electric Lawnrake is a simple standalone scarifier with no external equipment attached. It is designed with small and medium gardens in mind, and with its 750 W powered motor, it does an admirable job at keeping the garden ground healthy, removing moss, thatch, and any other debris with ease. It is equipped with a 34cm rake width, 6 rakes, and a 34-litre collection capacity. It has an instruction manual to guide in setting up the scarifier. It is near perfect for use in early spring and late autumn.
Key Features:
It is equipped with a 750 wath powered motor s
It is equipped 34cm rake width
It is equipped with 6 rake
Specification:
Brand
Flymo
Dimension
66 x 46.6 x 39 cm
Power Source
Electric
Colour
Red
Pros
Easy to use
Easy to assemble
Effective in getting read of moss and thatch
Cons
Bolts and knots might be missing
Shafts might overheat if overused upon initial purchase.
AL-KO 38P Combi-Care 2-in-1 Petrol Lawnrake/ Scarifier
The AL-KO 38p Combi-Care 2-in-1 Petrol Lawnrake/ Scarifier is a petrol-based lawn scarifier that allows for easy operation with no tools required for its operation. This scarifier is powered by a 1.3 KW petrol engine that is not restricted by garden sizes in its operation. It relies on petrol eliminates the need for a power outlet close to your garden or lawn to function properly. It has a working width of 38 cm and a 5 stage working depth adjustment dial. It comes with a spring tine roller, a scarifying blasé roller, and a 55l fabric bag and its aerator can be replaced with a lawn raking roller if necessary.
Key Features:
It has a 3-in-1 Function: Scarifying, Lawn Raking and Collecting
It is fitted with a Tool-less cassette changes
The Petrol engine for cable-free work
Specification:
Brand
AL-KO
Dimension
106 x 109.3 x 55.2 cm
Power Source
Petrol
Colour
Silver
Pros
No cords so it can easily move around.
It improves the length of your lawn
Works without harming the grasses
Cons
Poor assembly instruction
Primer buttons are not easily located
Einhell GE-SA 1335 P Petrol Scarifier
The Einhell GE-SA 1335 P Petrol Scarifier is a 3 in 1 combination tool; it is fitted with a scarifier, for weeding out moss and an aerator for airing the soil and roots of the garden plants, and a catcher. The Einhell GE-SA 1335 Petrol Scarifier is essentially a high performance and reliable device. It especially suitable for medium to large garden fields and is ideal for spaces approximately 1000 sq m. It is designed to allow a swift change of rollers, saving time and energy. With its powerful 1.3 KW motor, it provides continuous working progress and an equally good result on the field.
Key Features:
It is equipped with four-stroke engine, cordless and independent
It has a large 28 Litre catch bag
It is a 3 in 1 combination tool: Scarifying, aerating and catching
Specification:
Brand
Einhell
Dimension
61 x 46 x 52 cm
Power Source
Petrol
Colour
Red
Pros
It is lightweight and easy to manipulate
It removes moss and leaves grass in good order
It is not too noisy
Cons
Oil Level unable to determine with ease
There may be no throttle
TACKLIFE 1400W Lawn Scarifier
The TACKLIFE 1400W Lawn Scarifier with its unique designs is an electric lawn scarifier that is quite powerful with its 1400W pure copper motor which provides a high 400RPM high speed, high torque grinding, strong power and efficient operation. It is also equipped with 40cm cultivation width and 20cm maximum cultivation depth with 6 very hard manganese steel blades. These features enable deep soil turning and crushing, this does the important work of trenching and deep cultivation. For easy handling, there is the foldable handle, which also saves space and offers convenient storage. It offers a double safety switch which allows users to trigger the machine at the push of a button.
Key Features:
It has a foldable handle
It is equipped with 6 tiller blades
40cm tilling width, 30cm tilling depth
Specification:
Brand
TACKLIFE
Dimension
100 x 40 x 100 cm;
Power Source
Corded Electric
Colour
Orange
Pros
It is easy and convenient to handle
It is easy to assemble
An all-steel shield is provided for protection against splashing stones and pebbles
Cons
The design might not be appealing to some people
It could be very dangerous if not handled with care
BLACK DECKER 600W 30cm Lawn Raker
The Black Decker lawn raker is equipped with a 600W power motor making it quite suitable for medium-sized gardens and lawns. Its body is made from plastic ensuring it is lightweight weighing only 7 Kilograms and easy to manipulate around the field. It can easily be used for sweeping, scarifying and raking. Maintaining a clean and healthy lawn is made easy. It also has a central height adjustment system that allows for easy adjustment and usage. Its appealing colour also contributing to the aesthetic of the scarifier.
Key Features:
A Powerful 600 Watt Motor
3 raking heights for easy year-round maintenance
Large capacity front loading grass box.
Specification:
Brand
Black and Decker
Dimension
24 x 50 x 50 cm;
Power Source
Corded Electric
Colour
Orange
Pros
It is easy to use and move around
It provides for smooth all year round maintenance
Its grass box enables easy collection and disposal of collected debris
Cons
Plastic might break under extreme pressure
It is not suitable for large fields
VonHaus 2 in 1 Lawn Scarifier
A German product, the VonHaus 2 in 1 Lawn Scarifier is one that is effective, efficient, and easy to use. It is made with durable plastic, with a metal frame. As the name implies, it is a dual-purpose tool, and its dual purpose drum has easily interchangeable rollers. You can switch between the aerating and scarifying rollers with ease. It also features a collection box used for storing debris while the machine is in use and an easy to adjust handle. It weighs 8.5 Kg making it easy to handle and manoeuvre around the garden or lawn. The setting up of the machine is quite easy, as an easy to follow manual is provided upon delivery alongside a 2-year warranty after purchase.
Key Features:
It is made from durable plastic with a metal frame
It has two tools in one
It is covered by a manufacturer’s 2 years warranty
Specification:
Brand
VonHaus
Dimension
53 x 42 x 31 cm
Power Source
Corded Electric
Colour
Grey/Black/Orange
Pros
It is easy and convenient to use
It has an attractive colour combination
It is easy to assemble
Cons
The collecting grass box might not be up to par
Aerator might be less than functional
Sherpa 2-in-1 Petrol Scarifier STS40-S
The Sherpa 2 in 1 Petrol Scarifier STS40-S is a petrol-based garden scarifier with a fuel tank capacity of 3.6L. It is equipped with two different cassettes to help take care of your lawn. The spring tines are perfect for the raking of your lawn, the removal of dead grass and thatch, and keeping your lawn in its best position. It has a height adjuster which allows for easy and stress-free handling of the scarifier. The handle of this scarifier is foldable and as a result, saves space when it comes to storage. The grass bag is 45L making it convenient for longer use than the average scarifier.
Key Features:
It Includes 2 scarifying drums
It is equipped with folding handles
It is equipped with a quick drop lever
Specification:
Brand
Sherpa
Dimension
N/A
Power Source
Petrol
Colour
Black/Yellow
Pros
Its adjustable handles enhance comfort while working
It is easy to move around due to its large wheels
It keeps the lawn healthy
Cons
It might not be as fast as other scarifiers
Summary
Lawn scarifiers can be used in place of moss killers depending on the intentions of the user. They could also replace weed killers and electric weed burners which are an alternative to ordinary weed killers if you intend to not only get rid of weeds and moss but also break up the surface for airing. You may also be interested in telescopic hedge trimmers, the best garden strimmer and hedgehog houses.
Factors to Consider While Buying Lawn Scarifier
Motor Power
When picking a lawn scarifier, it is important to consider the motor power, as this will determine how efficient the scarifier would be on the field. Also rather than running off to buy the scarifier with the largest motor power, you also have to consider what size your garden is.
Lawn or garden Size and topography
When picking a lawn scarifier, the garden size and look is also very important. Some lawn scarifiers are not very effective when working on fields with too many bumps or mounds, while other lawn scarifiers have been designated to only work on small or medium-sized gardens. These criteria would be important in picking a lawn scarifier.
FAQs
Why do you need a lawn scarifier?
The presence of moss and thatch on your lawn can connote an unhealthy lawn or garden. It is quite possible a rake could remove the surface moss and dried leaves, but a rake would be limited especially in removing the moss from its roots. A lawn scarifier is usually built with powerful blades that get to the root of the moss and thatch and is able to break up the ground to properly ensure its free from all moss, thatch, and debris.
When should you scarify your lawn?
You cannot scarify your lawn or garden during every season of course. It is advisable to scarify your lawn during spring and autumn. When scarifying during spring, you have to ensure that you do not scarify at the beginning of spring. Grasses need to have grown quite a bit before you start scarifying.
Is there any difference between a lawn scarifier and a lawnmower?
While lawn mowers are the best choice in keeping the grasses of your lawn low, lawn scarifiers have a totally different purpose. They break up the soil getting rid of moss and other debris. They fulfil different purposes, and they also have different builds.
Which is better, electric scarifiers or petrol-powered scarifiers?
Picking between electric scarifiers and petrol-powered scarifiers is quite similar to picking between petrol lawn mowers and hand push lawn mowers. It is a matter of private choice. They both offer their respective advantages and disadvantages, but they still do perform the same function