Lidl Scarifier - Is it really a scarifier?

xanacan

Howrya
I bought the lidl scarifier last week
See details here: http://www.mowermagic.co.uk/acatalog/Brill_Scarifier_with_Aerator_Roller.html

When I read the manual it talked about a 'Verticulator' rather than 'Scarifier'. On the box it says Scarifier/Aerator. Now a verticulator by my understanding is a device which creates vertical lines in the ground and a scarifier removes dead 'thatch'

I went ahead and used it as directed but it ripped the entire grass leaving just soil. I tried it then at a low setting but it didn't remove the moss. Either way it doesn't seem to differentiate anyway between 'thatch' and actual live grass.

I know lidl isn't the best quality, waste of money blah blah. But - am I using the correct device?
Is this device REALLY a scarifier?

Also:
It also calls itself an 'aerator' and comes with an attachment you swap out with the 'scarifier' but the spikes are thin & solid and only about 1 1/2-2 inches long. Aaerators I see advertised elsewhere and on the internet pull plugs from the ground. The lidl aerator does not pull plugs.

Is it even an 'Aerator'.?

What is this thing at all and how could it help a lawn?

maith agat

Liparis · Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2009 3:40 pm Post subject:

It sounds to me that they are selling two machines for the price of one very cheap machine. The end result appears to do neither job.
Bill.

breezyacre · Posted: Sat Jun 13, 2009 10:13 am Post subject:

could you send a pic of the lawn now. I have used scarifiers which I hired and they do pull some grass as well. I can't imagine a light one would do more than the big machines available in the hire centres. The hire centre people will always be careful to say that the lawn will look worse before it looks better again. It is possible that the same is true in your case.

Liparis · Posted: Sat Jun 13, 2009 12:02 pm Post subject:

It shouldn't rip up the entire grass though! But, you may be suffering from shock when you say it has. How bad was the lawn before hand?
A lot of moss and you will be left with long straggly threads of grass. Moss is usually deeper than you think and the straggly grass that's left can be up to 4" long and have nothing left to support it. Perhaps it's not as bare as you think?
A light general feed and if it's extremely bare, a scattering of seed will help.
Bill.