If your lawn is thin and yellowish and moss keeps spreading, fertilizer and moss killer alone will not fix it. Moss is a symptom, not a disease — it appears where soil is compacted, damp, shaded or poor in nutrients, and where grass is too weak to compete. The solution starts with the soil.
Scarifying vs aeration — what is the difference?
The two are often confused. Scarifying cuts through the top layer of the turf with vertical blades and combs out the thatch — old clippings, moss and dead plant material that block water and air from reaching the roots. Aeration brings air deeper into the soil and relieves the compaction caused by foot traffic, machines and clay-heavy ground. In practice a home lawn usually gets both in one visit: first the moss and thatch are combed out, then the soil is aerated.
When is the right time?
Two windows a year. In spring once the ground has firmed up and the grass is actively growing — in Harju County usually early to mid May, when temperatures hold at +10°C or above. In autumn from late August through September, so the lawn can recover before winter. Aerating in summer heat or on frozen ground does more harm than good. The soil should be moderately moist: neither muddy nor rock hard.
How the work is done
Before aerating, the lawn is mowed evenly to about 5 cm. The machine covers the whole surface, going over compacted and mossy patches several times. Afterwards the lifted moss and thatch are raked up and hauled away — this material must not stay on the lawn. The result can look alarming at first: the lawn appears battered for a couple of weeks. That is normal, and recovery is fast if the aftercare is done.
Aftercare decides the result
A freshly aerated lawn is like an open door: nutrients and seed finally reach the soil. Right after aerating, fertilize and overseed the bare patches, and water during dry spells. If moss was widespread, also address the cause — shade, drainage or mowing too low — otherwise it returns within a couple of years. A normal home lawn needs aeration every few years; heavily used or clay soil more often.
Related services
Lawn aeration & fertilizing
We assess the lawn, aerate it in spring once the ground has firmed up, collect the thatch, and fertilize so the grass can grow back denser.
Weed & moss control
We identify the cause of weeds or moss, choose lawn-safe treatment or fertilizer, treat the problem areas, and advise how to prevent it returning.
Lawn mowing
We inspect the lawn, agree on mowing height and schedule, mow with suitable equipment, trim the edges, and clear clippings from paths and paved areas.
