Services

Scarification is a precise lawn care process using heavy-duty motorised rakes (scarifiers) to reduce and remove unwanted thatch and moss, giving healthy grass more space to grow and thrive. The process requires expertise, as the blades must be carefully set to remove moss and thatch without harming the healthy grass. Overly aggressive scarification can damage the lawn, while insufficient removal won’t effectively resolve the issue. At ProGrass, our experienced lawn operators ensure the process is carried out correctly and to the highest standard. Bear in mind that scarifying won’t remove all moss and thatch in one go to protect the health of your grass.

In our opinion, Aeration is one of the best treatments for a lawn, as it tackles soil compaction—a major cause of lawn problems. Compacted soil prevents vital nutrients and moisture from reaching the root zone, leading to shallow roots and making the lawn more vulnerable to moss and weeds. Aeration improves drainage, reduces thatch, and allows nutrients and moisture to penetrate more effectively.

Our preferred method is hollow tine aeration, which uses commercial machines to remove thousands of soil cores. This creates space for roots to grow deeper and access moisture and nutrients, resulting in a healthier lawn. The extracted soil can be left to break down naturally, adding nutrients back to the lawn, or raked up if preferred. If combined with scarification, the soil can be reintegrated during the process.

We also offer solid tine aeration, which punches holes without removing cores. While less effective, it avoids leaving cores on the surface. Slitting, however, is not recommended, as its benefits are minimal compared to other methods.

As an independent provider, we specialise in rejuvenating even the most damaged and neglected lawns at a fraction of the cost of returfing. Our proven method includes the following steps:

• Visit 1: Initial treatment to control moss and weeds while strengthening existing grass.
• Visit 2:
  • Hollow tine aeration to relieve soil compaction and improve root health.
  • Scarification to remove moss and thatch, stimulate the soil surface, and prepare for overseeding.
  • Raking and bagging of excess green waste.
  • Overseeding with seed disc drilling to fill bare areas and thicken the lawn, with additional hand-seeding for problem spots using nutrient-rich top dressing.
  • Pre-seed fertiliser application to support germination and nourish healthy grass.
• Ongoing visits: Seasonal treatments to enhance grass growth, strengthen the lawn, and manage moss and weeds.

Seed germination is a fascinating process that begins with proper ground preparation, as the seed must make contact with the soil surface to grow. The time it takes for shoots to appear depends on weather and irrigation, though germination often starts unnoticed below the surface. A shoot first roots into the soil before emerging as a blade of grass.

The choice of seed is critical, regardless of the overseeding method. High-quality seed suited to the season and weather conditions is essential—different seeds are used in spring and autumn. We avoid fast-germinating seeds, as they tend to develop shallow roots, leading to long-term issues. By using premium seed that establishes deep roots, we ensure the grass is durable and resilient, even in challenging or dry conditions.

For patch repairs and difficult areas, we rake out dead thatch and moss to expose the soil, then apply a blend of nutrient-rich top dressing and seed. This mix improves germination success and minimises seed loss to birds.

At ProGrass, we specialise in overseeding lawns using seed disc drilling machines—an approach rarely offered by other lawn care companies. These robust commercial machines create multiple grooves in the soil and precisely deposit seed, greatly improving germination rates while reducing seed loss to birds. After first seeing these machines in use on a golf course, imported from the U.S., I quickly adopted them to address previous seeding challenges, and the results have been outstanding ever since.

For smaller or hard-to-reach lawns, we also use surface application methods, either with spreaders or by hand, to ensure comprehensive coverage.

Wetting agents are designed to address hydrophobicity in turf, helping the soil absorb and retain water more effectively. When applied across the lawn, they allow water to move freely and efficiently through the soil. As the wetting agent takes effect, water penetrates deeper and spreads more evenly within the soil profile, reducing run-off. This enables the soil to hold more water, benefiting the grass and promoting healthier root development.

A common misconception is that wetting agents eliminate the need for watering—they don’t. While watering is still essential, wetting agents ensure water penetrates and stays in the soil more effectively, reducing overall water usage and making moisture more accessible to grass roots.

Through our sister company, PowerPro, we offer a wide range of external cleaning services, including drive/patio cleaning, renovation, and sealing. These services can be viewed in detail here.

We also provide gutter clearing using the SkyVac system, which utilizes a camera to ensure the gutters are completely clear afterwards.

Additional services include emergency and holiday grass cuts. In the winter, we offer cleaning for soffits and fascias, as well as leaf collection and disposal.

We also offer treatments for patios, paths, and drives to remove moss, dirt, and algae, improving safety to prevent falls, slips, and trips on hazardous surfaces.