Japanese knotweed: how do you get rid of it?
Why Japanese knotweed is so persistent, what Belgian law has said since 2025 and the methods that really work in a garden.
Scarifying your lawn: when and how?
With our damp climate, Belgian lawns quickly fill with moss and a layer of dead grass that smothers the turf. Scarifying is what brings a lawn back into shape, as long as you do it at the right time.
What does scarifying do?
A scarifier rakes the soil with vertical blades. It pulls out the moss and thatch, aerates the surface and lets water, air and fertiliser reach the roots. The lawn then grows back denser.
The right time
- In spring, from late March to May, once the soil has warmed up and the grass is growing actively.
- In early autumn, in September, while the soil is still warm and moisture returns: often the best period in Belgium.
- Avoid drought, heatwaves, frost and waterlogged soil.
How to go about it
- Mow short the day before, to about 3 cm.
- Scarify when the surface is dry, in two crossing passes if there is a lot of moss.
- Collect all the debris: the result often looks dramatic, which is normal.
- Overseed bare patches with a seed mix suited to shade or sun.
- Apply a seasonal fertiliser, then water regularly until the new grass has come up.
How often?
Once a year is enough for most lawns. A very mossy lawn may need two passes in the first year. If the moss keeps coming back, the cause usually lies elsewhere: shade, compacted soil, poor drainage or acidic soil. An on-site assessment lets you tackle the cause rather than the symptom.
The right mowing rhythm afterwards
Regular mowing, never cutting more than a third of the grass height, keeps the lawn dense and limits the return of moss. In summer, raise the cutting height to protect the grass from drought.
