Alko Scarifier

The best AL-KO scarifiers

Almost every lawn has problems with weeds, lawn thatch and moss at some point. Such growth deprives your grasses of nutrients and, of course, significantly worsens the appearance. A scarifier provides a remedy here. Its blade roller removes the debris so that your lawn can breathe again and grow nicely. A proven manufacturer in this segment is the German company AL-KO. An ALKO scarifier is manufactured in Austria and is available with a battery, mains cable or petrol engine.

We will introduce you to which AL-KO scarifier is recommended below. You will also find out what you should bear in mind in this context. We hope to be able to help you with this guide.

ALKO Scarifier – 3 models in the presentation

AL-KO Combi Care 38 E

The electric scarifiers from ALKO are particularly popular. A real bestseller is the model AL-KO Combi Care 38 E .

The device is classically operated by mains cable and is comparatively inexpensive. Nevertheless, it is suitable for maintaining medium-sized lawns up to 800 m². This is ensured by a working width of 38 cm and a power consumption of 1300 watts. In addition to the scarifier roller, a 37 cm wide aerator roller is also included in the scope of delivery. The attachments can be replaced without tools. You can therefore do something good for your lawn in many different ways.

The light weight of only 14 kg ensures that you yourself can enjoy a high level of comfort. In addition, the height of the handlebar can be adjusted so that both short and tall people can maintain an upright posture. In addition, a 55-litre catcher bag is included in the scope of delivery, which is why you can collect the debris directly during scarifying.

AL-KO Combi Care 38 P Comfort

Petrol scarifiers offer you the advantage of being able to cope even with adverse conditions. A recommendation for large areas is the AL-KO Combi Care 38 P .

This model is suitable for the efficient maintenance of areas up to 1200 m². A 1.8 hp motor ensures that even larger obstacles are overcome and removed from the ground. It operates at up to 6100 revolutions per minute. Furthermore, the scope of delivery also includes a scarifier roller as well as a fan roller, each of which can be replaced without tools. Accordingly, you are universally positioned.

Although it is a petrol model, it weighs a moderate 20 kg. This fact and the large front wheels actively support you when pushing. In addition, the height of the handlebar can be adjusted. You can also easily adjust the working depth to 5 positions via a red rotary control. The large slots at the front also serve to cool the engine so that it is not overloaded during long periods of operation.

AL-KO SF 4036 Energy Flex

The market share of battery-powered models is also growing in the scarifier segment. Why this is so is shown, for example, by the AL-KO SF 4036 .

This scarifier weighs a feather-light 11.7 kg and is therefore also ideally suited for women and senior citizens. In general, the vehicle is very agile and can therefore be guided confidently even in narrow passages. If your garden is winding, this model is still a pleasure to use. However, the matching 40V battery and a charger must be purchased separately beforehand. The 40V batteries from AL-KO have either 4 or 5 Ah. According to the manufacturer, the lawn area to be maintained should therefore be limited to 250 m².

Furthermore, a 36 cm wide roller with steel tines is included in the scope of delivery. A fan roller and a catcher box can be retrofitted as options. The minimal noise level, which will certainly not disturb any neighbour, also ensures a high level of comfort. In addition, the height of the handlebar can be adjusted and it can be folded away completely after use.

ALKO Scarifier – This is what fundamentally matters

Drive

Scarifiers can generally be divided into 3 types, which differ from each other not so much in their functionality, but primarily in terms of drive: Battery-powered models, models with a power cable and petrol-powered models. All of them have advantages and disadvantages and are offered by AL-KO.

Battery-powered scarifiers are also becoming increasingly popular in this segment. They combine the freedom of movement of a petrol engine with the advantages of an electric motor. You can work on any spot at once, as you wish, because the device is not tied to a cable. It should be said, however, that the power potential tends not to be sufficient for the maintenance of hard surfaces. On the other hand, you can expect a low noise level and no maintenance is required on the motor.

Corded scarifiers are generally the cheapest solution and are therefore best suited to people on a low budget. Their electric motor is also wear-free and environmentally friendly. The mains cable allows the units to be supplied with power without interruption. For this, however, there must be an outdoor socket nearby. Freedom of movement is restricted accordingly. In addition, the mains cable can be perceived as a nuisance.

Petrol scarifiers are still the best solution for the rapid maintenance of large lawns. Their powerful combustion engine can also cope with dense vegetation. At AL-KO, these machines are particularly sturdily built. Their disadvantage is the emissions and the high noise level during operation. In addition, a combustion engine always requires a certain amount of maintenance at some point.

Power

The performance is of great relevance. It does not necessarily have to be over the top, but above all it has to fit the conditions on site. The larger the area to be maintained and the harder the surface, the more power tends to be required.

Generally, petrol engines promise the greatest performance potential. Indicators of this are a solid horsepower figure and high engine torque. Both lead to the fact that you can cope with stringent adversities. The AL-KO company partly relies on high-quality engines from Honda.

In the field of cable scarifiers, it is worth taking a look at the wattage. Although it primarily defines power consumption, increased power consumption per unit of time can also be accompanied by increased performance. Another indicator of performance is the engine speed.

A battery-powered scarifier from ALKO has a rather weak performance. However, this does not matter if you use it on small areas with moderate debris. A parameter for good performance is a comparatively high battery voltage.

The attachment also influences the performance. Steel blades can, of course, do more than spring blades. Therefore, spring rollers should only be used when the rough preliminary work is finished.

Working width & working depth

In addition to the drive, the working width has a major influence on the area performance. If you want to scarify large areas efficiently, you should opt for a relatively wide model. For agile work in narrow passages and confined niches, on the other hand, a narrow roller is more suitable.

The working width of an ALKO scarifier is usually around 36 cm, which is a good compromise between area performance and manoeuvrability.

The working depth is also very important. The deeper you let the roller penetrate, the higher the probability of damaging the turf. Therefore, in the best case, it should only ever be touched lightly. In most cases, a working depth of approx. 3 mm will be perfectly adequate. With AL-KO, it can be adjusted 5-fold so that all conditions on site can be covered.

Catch basket

Not every ALKO scarifier is supplied with a grass catcher. However, it can be extremely useful. If you catch the debris in the basket, no more work has to be done afterwards. So you definitely save time.

As you know it from a lawn mower, the basket is simply hooked in and out of the back. Its volume should be in proportion to the size of the lawn. The larger the lawn, the more the basket should hold. Otherwise there will be constant interruptions. However, large baskets increase the overall dimensions and can lead to a certain bulkiness.

Moss and lawn felt have quite a high dead weight. Especially for women and senior citizens, it can therefore make sense not to empty the basket until it is completely full. After all, the latter requires the most effort.

Handling

Of course, handling should be as easy as possible. Then scarifying can even be fun. An ALKO scarifier usually meets this requirement.

An adequate weight is the main factor that contributes to energy-saving handling. ALKO’s electric scarifiers sometimes weigh less than 15 kg, which means that they can also be operated effortlessly by women and senior citizens. The petrol models weigh between 20 and 32 kg.

Large, smooth-running wheels also support you when manoeuvring. The solid AL-KO scarifiers have wheels with ball bearings, which makes pushing even easier.

A height-adjustable handlebar ensures that your back is protected. The handles are also ergonomically shaped. What is sometimes missing from AL-KO, however, are rubberised elements that would dampen the vibrations of the motor even better.

Starting up an electric model is particularly convenient at the touch of a button. Petrol models require a little more effort (refuelling, filling oil, tightening, etc.).

With AL-KO, you never need to use tools to adjust the working height or to change the roller. Conveniently, many models can be used as a combination – for scarifying and aerating.

Storage should be as dry as possible. To save space, you can fold in the handle. The latter also makes transport easier.

Volume

The noise level can be a decisive factor in everyday life. If it is excessive, it increases stress levels and can even have a negative impact on your hearing. In addition, neighbours may feel annoyed, which is why it is advisable to comply with the legal regulations on operating hours.

You can find out how loud or quiet your desired model is by looking at the sound level, which is expressed in units (dB). The sound level depends not only on the manufacturer, but primarily on the engine. Petrol engines are always louder than electric models. Therefore, you should always wear hearing protection when working with them.

In general, it is advisable to wear hearing protection above 85 dB. If you are interested in the lowest possible noise level, you should choose a model with a rechargeable battery. In general, an ALKO scarifier in this segment can neither be distinguished positively nor negatively. Depending on the design, the expected noises occur.

ALKO Scarifier – Advantages & disadvantages at a glance

ALKO scarifiers have many advantages to offer you. First of all, you can choose from a wide range of all common designs. While the development takes place in Germany, the production takes place in Austria. Nevertheless, not every demand can be met. So that you can comfortably weigh up the pros and cons, we have provided you with an overview below:

AL-KO 38 E in practice