One autumn job that will help your lawn look 'truly fantastic in the spring'

Autumn is the prime time for lawn care , and to give gardeners a leg up, lawn guru Steve Taylor from GreenThumb has highlighted a crucial task to keep your turf tip-top as the year winds down.

He's flagged that soil compaction, thatch, and moss often plague lawns as the months grow colder, but there's a nifty fix to ensure your grass stays "thriving, greener and healthier".

To prevent compaction and thatch from stifling root development and giving moss a cosy spot to spread, Taylor recommends "prioritising aeration and scarification" to maximise your lawn's health and growth potential.

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Aeration punches small holes in the earth, letting essential nutrients, light, and air mingle with the roots. Non-compacted soil is a boon for root expansion and spells a "healthier lawn overall".

Scarifying slashes surface thatch, tackling moss and granting roots access to their needs for flourishing. This chore should only nick about 15 minutes off your gardening time.

We have scoped out some handy tools for easy lawn scarifying. For those dealing with smaller patches, a hand-held scarifier does the trick.

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Customers appreciate the functionality, user-friendliness, and robustness of the outdoor living product. They note that it's a solid product that performs well, is simple to assemble, and is extremely durable.

However, some are not satisfied with the fit and quality of the handle.

Another manual scarifier option is the Kent and Stowe Stainless Steel Scarifying Rake, available for £36.99 at Marshalls Garden, which has garnered five-star reviews from customers.

For gardeners who need to scarify larger areas, a mechanical version is suggested. The VonHaus Lawn Scarifier, currently priced at £109.99 ($143), reduced from £114.99 ($160) on Amazon, is a fantastic choice.

Not only is it an Amazon Choice product, but customers also rave about its effectiveness, ease of assembly, and how well it scarifies lawns. They mention that it's easy to remove moss and thatch, and offers good value for money.

Customers also like its lightweight design. However, some customers have complained that the collection box is too small for this type of work.

Alternatively, the Einhell Electric Scarifier can be purchased from Toolstation for £89.98, ($105) down from £129.98 ($175) Customers in the reviews for this product said it worked flawlessly, was easy to use and were impressed by it, but there was one flaw some noticed - the handles aren't adjustable.

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