5 Best Petrol Lawn Scarifiers of 2024

Hyundai’s gardening products are usually of good quality, so I was very excited to test the Hyundai 212cc Petrol Lawn Scarifier and Aerator. I’d already tested their electric scarifier and voted it my top choice. 

This machine has a reliable 212 cc 5 kW engine which gives it ample power to move across lawns that need some serious TLC. Once you find the right height setting for your lawn, it’ll pull up moss and thatch without damaging healthy grass. The aerating roller also works well. 

This petrol powered scarifier has some impressive features. There’s 5 cutting height settings ranging from +15 mm to -15 mm, and it doubles up as an aerator. The height can be adjusted using a simple adjustment wheel which is very easy. The height of the handles can be adjusted too, or folded away for easy storage. 

It has a 40 cm working width which makes it efficient across open stretches of lawn. You’ll be able to cover a large area in a few passes, but manoeuvring through gateways or around flower beds still isn’t too difficult. 

Having said that, the grass collection bag is its one downside. At 45 L, it’s an adequate size, but that’s where the praise ends. It’s awkward to remove and put back on, while it will still fill up quickly if you’ve got a lot of moss and thatch in your lawn. 

At 40 kg, it’s worth noting that this product is heavy. Despite this, it’s fairly comfortable to use. There’s soft grip handles that are adjustable to 3 different heights. It runs noisily, so if you value quiet garden machinery, you may prefer another model. 

All things considered, I’d happily recommend this model as the best petrol lawn scarifier and aerator on the market. It has a reasonable cutting width, ample power, and all efforts have been made to ensure it remains user-friendly despite the size. 

The Einhell GC-SC 4240P Petrol Scarifier For Lawns is efficient, reliable and very reasonably priced in the world of petrol scarifiers. It has more power than a number of its competitors, running at 4.2kW. The main downside of this model is that there is no aerating function. 

It contains 18 high-grade steel blades that are able to tackle stubborn weeds, moss and surface root systems efficiently. The high power means it can be used in areas that electric scarifiers might not manage, and it’s recommended for larger lawns, up to 1200 m². 

There’s 8 scarifying depths to choose from, which is more than most users will require, and this can be adjusted using a single lever. 

Despite the weight (31.4 kg), a number of efforts have been made to make this scarifier easy to use. There’s a speed controller which enables you to better control the machine around flower beds or trees, while also helping you to navigate tougher soil conditions. The large wheels are easy to manage across a variety of terrains and exert less stress on the lawn than smaller wheels. 

While many scarifiers are made using a lot of plastic, this model has a metal body. As a result, it feels better quality and less flimsy than others I’ve tried, although you’ll need to be aware that this can rust. 

Like many of the machines I’ve tested, the downside is the collection box. If you’ve got a lot of moss or thatch on your lawn, you will undoubtedly find the collection bag too small, at 45 L. In fact, I read that some other users opted to remove it altogether and rake the debris at the end, which I too, was tempted to do. 

This grass collector is also difficult to attach to the machine, which adds another layer of annoyance! Other than this however, this tool is very easy to assemble, able to be done in 10 minutes. 

Overall, I’d happily recommend this model to large lawn owners who don’t require the aerating function as well as scarifying. It’s reasonably priced, well designed and very easy to use. 

A brand that has built its reputation on quality and innovation, AL-KO garden products are a firm favourite in the UK. As a result, I had high hopes for their AL-KO 38P Combi-Care 2-in-1 Petrol Lawnrake & Scarifier, especially after testing their electric lawn scarifier. 

This model is both a lawn rake and scarifier, so it’s a great machine if you’ve got a larger lawn that’s in need of some TLC. It removes moss and thatch to encourage healthy grass growth, while the 1.3 kW petrol engine means there’s no need to worry about cable lengths or battery life!

It has a 38 cm working width which makes it an ideal choice for larger lawns, yet you’ve still got the reassurance that you could get around trees and flowerbeds if needed. The working depth can be altered using the simple adjustment dial, and you’ve got 5 depths to choose from. 

The lawn rake attachment has steel springs that will remove surface material, while the scarifier drum offers a more intense lawn treatment, getting down to the roots. You’re able to change between functions with no tools required.

There’s a few other good design features to bear in mind. The height of the handles can be adjusted, or folded down if you need to store the machine. While there’s no electric start function, I did find it very easy to start on either the first or second pull. Despite the instructions not being particularly clear, it was also very easy to put together. 

There’s a 55 L collection box and, although larger than others I’ve tested, this still isn’t quite large enough. If you’ve got a lot of thatch and moss in your lawn, you’ll find it fills up very quickly. Although this does mean that the machine is doing a good job!

Overall, I was very impressed with this model. While it’s priced higher than a number of its competitors, I did find it had a more up-market feel. 

Removing moss and thatch from larger lawns while also aerating the soil, the Webb WEPS400 4 Wheel Petrol Lawn Scarifier & Raker is a good choice with very few flaws. 

Straight out of the box I was impressed with this machine, and that’s primarily thanks to the ease of assembly. I managed to put it together in less than 10 minutes, which is practically unheard of for such a large model!

It has a powerful 163 cc engine which enables it to handle tough jobs. Another standout feature is the 4-wheel design, which provides great stability and manoeuvrability across even tough terrains. These wheels allow you to move at a steady pace, resulting in a more consistent finish. 

It comes with both scarifying and aerating cassettes. The scarifying function removes thatch and moss from within the lawn, encouraging healthier growth. The aerating function pierces the lawn to allow water and oxygen better access.

There’s an adjustable height system that allows you to select the ideal depth based on the lawn conditions. You’ve got 8 working depths (+5 to -15 mm) to choose from, making this model much more versatile than those with only 5. The working depth can be adjusted using the large, easy to access handle on the side of the machine.

At 34 kg, it’s fairly heavy but not totally unmanageable. All efforts have been made to ensure the machine is still easy to both use and store. The handles fold down for easy storage, and the 40 cm working width isn’t so wide that you’ll struggle to manoeuvre it. 

It comes with a 45 L grass collection bag which, like many of the models I’ve tested, simply isn’t large enough if you’ve got a lot of work to do on your lawn. I recommend instead removing the collection bag altogether and simply removing the debris by hand after use.

Overall, this Webb Petrol Scarifier is a solid choice for users who are looking to maintain a healthy and attractive lawn. It delivers impressive results and is well worth considering if you need a robust machine to handle tough lawn maintenance tasks. 

With a much higher price tag than some of the other scarifiers I have looked at, I was curious to put the Stiga SVP40G Petrol Engine Scarifier to the test. 

This is a powerful machine, and that’s clear from the start. It’s been designed for medium to large size lawns, with a 40 cm working width and a 5 stage height adjustments. 

With a 182 cc engine, it has ample power to quickly and effectively remove debris from the lawn, making light work of even the toughest ground conditions. This is helped by the 32 high quality blades that allow it to do a much more thorough job. As a result, it’s one of the best lawn scarifiers on the market if you’ve got a neglected lawn in need of some serious maintenance. 

There’s a 50 L collection bag which allows you to work for longer periods without emptying (although a larger box would still be more convenient!). This is difficult to attach and detach, so some patience is required!

If you’ve got a small lawn with lots of obstacles, this model wouldn’t be for you. It’s quite bulky, with a large 3 L fuel tank and a 44 kg weight. Some effort has been made to improve user comfort, with the adjustable handles a nice extra feature. 

I did have a few minor gripes with this machine, but these are taking the price into account. The first is that for such an expensive model, I would have preferred there to be more working height options. 5 seems a bit of a let down when other models have 8. 

My second gripe, and this is a big one, is that there is no separate aerating function. While the highest height setting can be used to aerate compacted soil, there’s no separate roller, which seems odd given the price. 

Overall, I was pleased with this machine and the number of blades is certainly impressive. If you’re after value for money however, this model isn’t the one.