Best Electric Scarifier – Choice and Reviews

Are you looking for the best electric lawn scarifier? In this guide I will explain how to choose it and I will tell you which are the best performing models.

The electric scarifier is a tool that can be very useful, especially for people who want to take care of their domestic lawn. As you surely know, aeration can become a rather tiring or expensive operation if you choose to use other equipment. The electric model, on the other hand, is tailor-made for small or medium-sized lawns. In addition, it consumes little and above all it is rather quiet, a point in favor for those who have neighbors with easy complaints.

Why it is important to aerate the lawn

Before looking at how to choose an electric scarifier, it is important to understand what it means to aerate your lawn and why to do it. By aeration we mean those operations that have the purpose of greening the lawn and restoring it to health, and are of 2 types:

• Lawn mowing: during this phase all the layer of weeds and residues (felt) that prevent the garden from breathing and absorbing water and UV rays from the sun is eliminated.

• Soil scarification: in this phase the soil is slightly etched, with the aim of moving the clods and creating “tunnels” to allow the soil to absorb water and nutrients correctly.

What are the advantages of these operations? First, light, water, nutrients and air are allowed to pass freely towards the ground. The felt, if not removed, becomes a real shield that acts as a barrier, and which can make the lawn sick and yellow.

Thanks to aeration, fungal diseases are also avoided, and the efficiency of both re-seeding and fertilization is improved. Other benefits? The stagnation of humidity is eliminated, a homogeneous development of the grass is allowed (also in terms of color), and the roots are allowed to anchor more effectively to the ground.

Before proceeding, I want to clarify one aspect: Are aerating and scarifying synonymous? Not really, but they are used as such. The reason? Modern appliances often do both, and in fact are labeled as scarifier scarifiers.

• Aeration: provides for the removal of all weeds, weeds, moss and foliage that prevent the lawn from breathing.

• Scarification: affects the ground to allow nutrients, water and air to penetrate deeply. In addition, it unpacks the soil and improves the oxygen exchange of the soil.

What is an aerator and how does it work?

On the surface it might look like a simple lawnmower, as it comes with a frame almost always made of hard plastic and an extendable handle, which you can adjust according to your height. As for the chassis, this houses a motor and a roller, and this is where we begin to discover the functions of this tool.

The electric scarifiers are able to lift debris, felt, foliage and moss from the lawn thanks to a powerful spring roller (also called comb). Once the felt has been lifted and removed from the ground, it ends up directly inside a convenient collection bag, thanks to an air jet. Keep in mind that the bag can still be removed.

If the scarifier function is also present, you will find a roller specially designed for this purpose, equipped not with springs but with blades. It has the task of moving the soil and making incisions on the surface, so as to improve the absorption of water and nutrients, also facilitating the exchange of oxygen.

Often the two rollers are interchangeable and you don’t even need tools to disassemble and replace them. In summary, you can go from aerating to scarifying in no time, effortlessly.

Characteristics of an electric scarifier

On the market you can find essentially three types of aerators, and the electric one is one of the simplest. Actually there is also the tow model, but it requires a ride on mower to be used.

Compared to a scarifier with internal combustion engine, for example, the electric one consumes much less, and is easier to handle, as it is lighter (as well as being quieter). The manual rake aerators, on the other hand, they are the cheapest but also the most tiring and tiring to use.

Being electric, our model will only work if you connect it to a power outlet, or alternatively to a generator. The advantage, in the first case, lies in the reduced consumption, but it is obvious that the presence of the wire will limit your movements.

That’s why I personally recommend it to those who have to take care of a medium-small lawn, since in this circumstance you don’t need a lot of freedom of action. And if you want to expand it a bit, remember that you can always use an extension cable. In summary:

• The electric scarifier must be connected to a power socket
• It is lighter and quieter than a petrol model
• It is easier to maneuver and has lower fuel consumption
• You are however bound by the length of the thread
• For total independence you can use a generator
• To expand the range of the wire you can use an extension

Best electric scarifiers

1. Einhell RG-SA 1433 Scarifier 1.400 Watt

If you are looking for a good electric scarifier, at a competitive price, then I recommend you consider this Einhell power tool. It is a combined model, therefore with two rollers supplied, respectively for soil aeration and scarification. It has a high power (1,400 watts), the basket for collecting the removed felt and the ability to adjust the cutting depth (3 levels).

We start with the power of the engine, which is really high, even if the coverage in square meters stops at 400 m2. In summary, it is a power tool recommended for medium and small lawns, but it does not fear motor overheating, if used continuously. It also allows you to adjust the cutting depth, with 3 levels available, and has an overall low weight, which does not exceed 12.5 kilograms.

It is a combined tool: it means that it has two rollers supplied, one for aerating the lawn (comb and with 48 springs) and the other for scarifying, therefore equipped with blades. It is quite agile to maneuver, also thanks to the handle with adjustable height and ergonomic grip. Replacing the rollers is quite simple as no tools are required. The only drawback is a small bag (28 liters), but it has a space-saving structure, and is easy to store.

PRO

• Excellent engine power
• Aerate and scarify the lawn
• 3 levels of depth adjustment
• Lightweight, agile and easy to use
• Space-saving closure
• Very competitive price
• Great effectiveness of both rollers

AGAINST

• The collection bag is not very large
• A little delicate plastic shell

2. AL-KO Combi Care 38 E Comfort With Basket

This electric scarifier and scarifier from AL-KO deserves a review due to its excellent basic features. The motor has a power of 1,300 watts, and you can also adjust the cutting depth by choosing between 5 different levels. Secondly, it has an ideal coverage of up to 800 square meters and a working width of 38 centimeters. Finally, the collection basket is very large, as it reaches up to 55 liters.

It’s powerful, but it’s also super easy to use. Meanwhile, the two rollers for scarifying and aeration can be replaced without using tools, since there is a convenient release and coupling mechanism. The adjustment of the cutting depth (5 levels) is done by means of a comfortable knob placed on the frame, and of course you have the possibility to adjust the height of the ergonomic handle, so as to adapt it to your needs.

The capacity of the collection bag is excellent, reaching a total of 55 liters, and the same also applies to the coverage, up to 800 square meters. The cutting width is very wide, reaching 37 cm (scarifier roller) and 38 cm (scarifier roller). Even though it weighs slightly above average, its power and performance justify this limit. The defects? He struggles to balance when the bag gets too full.

PRO

• Excellent engine power
• Large capacity of the collection basket
• For medium-sized lawns (max 800 m2)
• Excellent cutting width
• Adjustable cutting depth (5 levels)
• Aerates and scarifies (2 rollers supplied)

AGAINST

• With a full bag, he loses his balance a little

3. Bosch Home and Garden 060088A100 Scarifier

The Home and Garden line from Bosch always features excellent power tools for home use. Although the cost of this electric scarifier is above average, it is justified by a number of special features. In the meantime, thanks to the Jet Collect system, which manages to pick up everything from the lawn, including stones, and which compresses the felt thus saving the space occupied in the bag (50 liters). Furthermore, it is performing, it is compact and it is very light.

It should be noted that this electric scarifier has only one roller supplied, equipped with 14 carbon steel blades. The blades are able to penetrate the ground up to a maximum of 10 millimeters, but they can be adjusted to meet your needs. Unfortunately they do not penetrate very deeply, so this model is not very suitable for scarifying complex and very hard ground.

Even if there is no special roller, the aeration is excellent, thanks to a powerful engine with Jet Collect technology. In practice, the roller cuts and punches, and the felt residues are pushed by a strong jet of air and compressed inside the 50-liter bag. This not only improves the final result, but also saves space in the collection container. Finally, note of merit for the extreme lightness and maneuverability of this tool, and for the foldable handles and collection basket.

PRO

• Optimized performance with Jet Collect
• Very compact, easy to use and agile
• Foldable handles and collection basket
• Universal roller for aerating and scarifying
• 4 levels of depth adjustment

AGAINST

• The blades don’t go very deep
• Sometimes it tends to overheat

4. Einhell 3420620 GC-Sa 1231 1.200 Watt

Here is another model produced by Einhell, cheaper than the other reviewed, but also slightly less powerful. It’s a great product if you want to save a bit on spending, but without sacrificing quality and final performance. It has an engine with a power of 1,200 watts, a bag with a capacity of 28 liters and the possibility of adjusting the cut on 3 levels of depth. Furthermore, being combined, it has two blades supplied (one for scarification and the other for aeration).

It is the lightest on the market, but still has excellent power, and the ability to adjust the depth allows you to use it on various types of lawns and terrains. The two rollers supplied are of great quality: the one for aerating has 42 claws and is cushioned with a bearing system, while the one for scarifying has 8 double blades. When you close it, you can store it in the parking position, lowering the handle and saving a lot of space.

Given the very cheap price, it has some limitations: the bag is not very large, and the plastic is not of the highest level, even if it resists shocks worthily. However, as I anticipated, the results on the ground are really brilliant, as long as you understand that this power tool is not suitable for lawns over 300 square meters. Finally, this Einhell model stands out for its super-compactness and the quality of the blades for scarifying.

PRO

• Super light and compact
• Very economical price
• Excellent performance of the 2 rollers
• Possibility to adjust the depth (3 levels)
• Good base power
• Extendable and resealable handle

AGAINST

• Poor capacity of the collection basket
• Only for lawns not exceeding 300 square meters

How to choose an electric aerator?

There are some features that I recommend that you study before choosing your next electric scarifier and scarifier. Here is a little insight into each item.

Scarifier and scarifier? Remember that not all power tools of this type include both functions. If you need to take care of a very difficult lawn, with a hard and compact soil, you will probably want to choose a machine that also does scarifying.

Type of rollers: the aeration roller has combs that “scratch” the lawn by removing the felt. The rollers for scarifying, on the other hand, have real blades that penetrate the soil, carving it.

Engine power: it is always advisable to invest in a product with a high engine power, because the final performance depends on this. Generally an electric scarifier has a motor power ranging from 600 to 1,400 watts. Also know that a low-powered engine tends to overheat at a higher speed.

Coverage in square meters: each tool of this type has a certain recommended coverage in square meters, which usually starts from 300 for the less expensive models, up to over 800 square meters for the more performing ones. What happens if you use a small lawn model in a large lawn? Nothing serious, but it will overheat before finishing the aeration of all the ground.

Adjustment of the engraving depth: if you opt for a model with a scarification function, make sure that the roller with the blades gives you the possibility to adjust the depth of the incisions. Generally the aerators have 3 to 8 levels of adjustment, which you can choose according to your needs.

Cutting width: the cutting width indicates how much lawn area you can cover with a single pass of the tool. It is expressed in centimeters and usually varies between 30 and 45 cm, depending on the size of the base.

Dimensions: better a large or small electric scarifier scarifier? It depends on the shape of your lawn. If there are many obstacles (such as flower beds or walls) it is better to buy a more compact and agile tool. Conversely, if you have a garden with few obstacles, then a wider base speeds up the work.

Collection bag capacity: it is important to evaluate the capacity of the collection bag, because a small container will have to be emptied more often, resulting in a waste of time. The large containers oscillate around 55 liters, while the small ones always start from a minimum of about 30 liters.

Adjustable handle: to be able to comfortably use your electric aerator, you should buy a model with a height-adjustable handle, and with an ergonomic handle.