Problems & solutions
Start with what you can see.
Most people don't Google “scarification” — they Google “why is my lawn full of moss”. So instead of a menu of treatments, start here with the symptom that looks like yours. We'll tell you what's actually causing it, and how we put it right.
01
Moss is taking over
What it looks like
Spongy green or yellow-brown moss spreading through the lawn, worst in shade and after wet weather; the grass feels soft and thin underfoot.
What's causing it
Moss is a symptom, not just a weed. It moves in wherever grass is weak — damp, shaded, compacted or under-fed ground gives it the gap it needs. Kill the moss without fixing those conditions and it simply returns the following winter.
How we fix it
We treat the moss so it blackens and dies, scarify it out, then tackle the root causes — relieving compaction with aeration, improving drainage, overseeding the bare areas and feeding the grass so it can out-compete the moss next time.
02
Patchy, bare and thin areas
What it looks like
Thin, threadbare patches, worn tracks and bare soil showing through — often after building work, heavy use, or a lawn that’s simply been left to go.
What's causing it
Bare patches come from a mix of compaction, poor feeding, wear, and old lawns whose grass varieties have thinned out over the years. Weeds and moss quickly colonise any gap the grass leaves.
How we fix it
Scarification and aeration to open up the soil, overseeding with hard-wearing grass seed to fill the gaps, and a season of feeding to thicken everything up. For lawns that are too far gone for one visit, this becomes a full renovation plan.
03
Yellow, brown or dead patches
What it looks like
Straw-coloured or dead-looking areas, sometimes in rings or scorched circles, sometimes spreading in wet or humid spells.
What's causing it
There are several culprits and they need telling apart: lawn disease like red thread and fungus, drought stress on compacted soil, and the scorched rings of dog-wee burn. Treating the wrong one wastes your money.
How we fix it
We diagnose which it actually is, then treat accordingly — disease treatment for red thread and fungus, wetting agents and aeration for drought-stressed soil, and targeted repair and dilution advice for dog-wee burn — before feeding the areas back into line with the rest of the lawn.
04
Weeds everywhere
What it looks like
Daisies, dandelions, clover, plantains and yarrow spreading through the lawn, flowering and crowding out the grass no matter how often you mow.
What's causing it
Broadleaf weeds thrive where grass is thin and under-fed, and most spread by root or by seed faster than mowing can control. Off-the-shelf weedkillers are often too weak to finish the job, or too strong and scorch the grass with them.
How we fix it
As qualified operators we use selective, professionally applied weed treatments that kill the weed without harming the turf, then thicken the grass with feed and overseeding so weeds have nowhere to get back in.
05
The lawn feels spongy underfoot
What it looks like
A soft, springy, bouncy feel when you walk on it; water sits on the surface after rain and the grass is slow to green up in spring.
What's causing it
That sponginess is usually a thick layer of dead grass, moss and thatch built up at the base of the lawn, often over compacted soil. It stops water, air and feed reaching the roots — so the lawn slowly starves.
How we fix it
Scarification rakes the thatch and moss out mechanically, and aeration relieves the compaction underneath. It looks dramatic on the day, but it’s the single biggest step in reviving a tired lawn — and we overseed and feed straight after so it comes back thicker.
06
Birds or animals are digging up the lawn
What it looks like
Torn-up turf, holes and disturbed patches — often the work of birds, badgers or foxes pulling the lawn apart, or raised runs and molehills.
What's causing it
When something is digging your lawn up, it’s usually hunting grubs below the surface — leatherjackets and chafer grubs eat grass roots and attract wildlife that tears the turf apart to reach them. Ants and moles disturb it from below in their own way.
How we fix it
We identify the pest, treat it, and then repair the damage left behind with overseeding and feed so the lawn recovers rather than being re-torn every night.
Recognise your lawn in one of those?
The only way to know for sure is to look at it properly — which is exactly what your free £97 survey is for. Book us in and we'll diagnose it in person.