Top 5 compared
The best lawn scarifiers
Moss and dead thatch pulled out of the lawn, so the grass can breathe and grow back thicker.
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The top 5 at a glance
A scarifier is a powered lawn rake. A spinning drum of blades cuts into the thatch, the mat of old clippings, moss and debris at the base of the grass that keeps water and air from getting down into the soil. Most also come with a raking drum that combs the loosened thatch out into a grass box, and lighter rakers do that raking alone.
The RHS suggests scarifying in early autumn, in September or October, and says a lawn needs it if the soil can’t be seen between the blades of grass. It looks patchy and rough afterwards, which is normal, and soon recovers. The cordless Einhell comes without a battery, charger or grass bag.
What matters
- Several depth settings, from a light rake to a deep cut.
- Tool-free drum changes, for swapping from blades to rake.
- A folding handle, for storing in the shed.
- A wider drum and bigger box for a large lawn.
#1VonHaus 1500W Lawn Scarifier and Rake (30L)
£119.99 RRP
Rated by VonHaus for lawns of 100 to 300 square metres: a scarifying drum cuts through thatch and moss, a raking drum combs the loosened debris out, and the two swap without tools. The higher-scoring Bluemars below is a 40cm, 15.4kg machine for bigger lawns; at 9.9kg, this one is easier to handle on a typical garden lawn.
What owners say: Owners like how quickly it goes together and how easily it pulls out moss and dead grass, and find it light to push around; the one grumble is a box that fills fast and needs emptying often.
A closer look: Start on the highest setting and lower it a step at a time, as VonHaus suggests, rather than going straight in at the deepest cut. On a mossy lawn the 30L bag fills quickly, so plan on emptying it every few lengths.
- Tool-free drum change
- Rated for 100–300m² lawns
- Two-stage safety trigger
- Height-adjustable handlebar
Best for: Small to medium lawns
- Power
- 1,500W
- Working width
- 32cm
- Drums
- Scarifier and rake
- Depth settings
- 4
- Grass box
- 30L bag
- Weight
- 9.9kg
#2Bluemars 2000W Lawn Scarifier and Rake (40cm, 55L)
£100–£150
The widest here at 40cm, with a 2,000W motor and a 55L grass box, so a bigger lawn takes fewer lengths and fewer trips to the compost heap. Five depth settings run from +6mm for a light rake down to −12mm.
What owners say: Owners rate the build and the power for deep scarifying, and say the extra width makes shorter work of large lawns.
A closer look: With the grass box off and the handle folded, it packs down for the shed, but at 15.4kg it’s the heaviest here, so lift it with both hands. Work across the lawn one way and then at right angles for an even finish, starting on the highest setting.
- Folding handle, tool-free lock
- Packs down for the shed
Best for: Wide lawns in big gardens
- Power
- 2,000W
- Working width
- 40cm
- Drums
- Scarifier and rake
- Depth settings
- 5
- Grass box
- 55L bag
- Weight
- 15.4kg
#3Hyundai HYSC1532E 1500W Lawn Scarifier and Rake
£89.99 RRP
The same 32cm width, four depths and 30L bag as the VonHaus, with both a scarifying and a raking drum, and Hyundai covers it with a three-year home-use warranty. A thermal cut-out protects the motor on a long session.
What owners say: Owners say it clears dead grass and weeds from a tired lawn well, and find it easy to steer; the collection bag is easy to empty but fills quickly, and several think it too small.
A closer look: Use the scarifying drum first to cut through thatch and moss, then swap to the raking drum for a lighter pass that lifts what’s left behind. The handles fold down, so it can stand in a corner of the shed or garage until spring.
- Thermal cut-out protects the motor
- 3-year home-use warranty
- Folding handles
Best for: Long sessions, three years’ cover
- Power
- 1,500W
- Working width
- 32cm
- Drums
- Scarifier and rake
- Depth settings
- 4
- Grass box
- 30L bag
- Weight
- 10.95kg
#4Black+Decker GD300 600W Lawn Raker
£50–£75
A light 600W lawn raker for keeping on top of moss and thatch through the year, with three raking heights, a front-loading grass box and just 7kg to push. Black & Decker started out as a small machine shop in Baltimore in 1910.
What owners say: Owners call it a capable little machine that’s simple to assemble and far less effort than raking by hand; the basket is the weak point, too small for many and forever needing emptying.
A closer look: Three raking heights make it easy to keep on top of moss all year: a high setting for a light spring tidy, lower for the main autumn job. The front box fills fast on a mossy lawn, so tip it out often rather than waiting for it to overflow.
- Front-loading grass box
Best for: Light, year-round raking
- Power
- 600W
- Working width
- 30cm
- Drums
- Rake only
- Depth settings
- 3
- Grass box
- 30L box
- Weight
- 7kg
#5Einhell GC-SC 18/28 Li Cordless Scarifier (bare tool, no battery)
£136.95 RRP
Runs on Einhell’s 18V Power X-Change batteries: a brushless cordless scarifier with a roller of 12 blades and no cable to drag round the flower beds. It’s sold as the bare tool, without a battery, charger or grass bag.
What owners say: Owners find it particularly good at clearing moss, and one says it copes well with a large area; battery life divides them, enough for some and short for others.
Heads up: It comes without a battery, charger or grass bag: Einhell’s 18V Power X-Change batteries fit, and a 2.5Ah battery covers about 100 square metres a charge, so match the battery to the lawn.
A closer look: No grass bag comes with it, so the raked-out thatch is left lying on the lawn: go over it afterwards with a rake or a mower set high to gather it up. Einhell sells an aerator roller and a collection bag separately, and the guide bar folds down for storage.
- Brushless motor
- Roller with 12 blades
- Fits Power X-Change batteries
- 10-year motor warranty if registered
- Folding, height-adjustable guide bar
Best for: Cordless, for Einhell battery owners
- Power
- 18V, battery extra
- Working width
- 28cm
- Drums
- Scarifier; aerator extra
- Depth settings
- 3
- Grass box
- Sold separately
- Weight
- 5.93kg
How they compare
Swipe sideways or rotate device to see all 5.
| Feature | #1VonHaus 1500W | #2Bluemars 2000W | #3Hyundai 1500W | #4Black+Decker GD300 | #5Einhell GC-SC 18/28 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Best for bigger lawns | Best budget | Best cordless | ||
| Picked Rating | 8.9 | 9.1 | 8.7 | 8.6 | 8.6 |
| Price | £119.99 RRP | £100–£150 | £89.99 RRP | £50–£75 | £136.95 RRP |
| Power | 1,500W | 2,000W | 1,500W | 600W | 18V, battery extra |
| Working width | 32cm | 40cm | 32cm | 30cm | 28cm |
| Drums | Scarifier and rake | Scarifier and rake | Scarifier and rake | Rake only | Scarifier; aerator extra |
| Depth settings | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| Grass box | 30L bag | 55L bag | 30L bag | 30L box | Sold separately |
| Weight | 9.9kg | 15.4kg | 10.95kg | 7kg | 5.93kg |
| Best for | Small to medium lawns | Wide lawns in big gardens | Long sessions, three years’ cover | Light, year-round raking | Cordless, for Einhell battery owners |
| Buy now | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon |
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