Bosch 060088A070 ALR Electric Lawn Raker, 900 W

After the heavy rains in January, the lawn was covered in lots of moss and needed some TLC so rather than doing it by hand, I bought this machine (chose this over the AVR 900 as more power and no small metal pieces to replace).Putting it together is fairly easy albeit, a little fiddly but simple once you work it out. Read the reviews on here and took some advice to ensure the first cut was not too deep. There are 4 settings - from (4) Skim the service to (1) Deep cut into the soil. I started at 3 as I wanted to clear the moss and thatch and not shave the garden completely.I have a fairly good sized garden and after the first minute of use (its light and simple to use), I was shocked to find how much it had picked up. The box was full - I looked back to confirm my grass was still there and it was. Green, clean, trimmed and smiling at me. Hang on I thought - the collection box must have been full before I started. There is no way this came from my garden! I emptied the box and did my second line/run. Again, few minutes later, the box was full. Cleared and started again.By the time I was finished, the garden looked amazing. Not only had the machine picked up all the leaves/debris from the garden but it had almost given it a new life. It really is that good. Next stage was to identify the really bare areas, drop the machine down to setting 1 or 2 and then run again. It scores the ground so you can complete it by adding some new seed.Many people have mentioned the size of the collection box and whilst I agree, it fills quickly, it proves how efficient this machine is. My second run did not fill up the collection box too quick so it really depends on the state of the garden. I feel having the box any bigger, would make the machine too large and diffcult to push. Cable is slightly short so ensure you have an extension reel available.Few pointers/tips1. A week before, I put down some moss killer, etc. By the time I came to use the machine, the moss was black and easier to pull up.2. Mow the lawn short before you use the machine.3. Start at a high setting - I would recommend 3 possibly 2. See how4. My lawn was damp not wet and found the machine ran really well.5. Once complete, take the opportunity to overseed.6. Water regularly.7. Sit back and admire.

The new Bosch ALR 900 seems well up to the job of scarifying as well as raking the lawn. The machine was easy to assemble and the instructions were clear and simple to follow.The 900 watt motor never seemed under pressure when I used the machine continuously throughout the day for scarification.The 50 litre collection box (which is large for an electric model) does fill quickly but, even so, it is an appropriate size for this machine which is quite light and relatively maneuverable. The box empties easily into a standard dustbin bag.The wire tines remove a considerable amount of debris from the lawn and you need to be prepared to dispose of plenty of moss and thatch after use.The "jetstream" collection is excellent; the debris all goes straight into the collection box until it is full to capacity which is every few minutes.This lawn raker is ideal for a medium to large lawn with the obvious restriction that it is mains powered so your range will be determined by the length of your extension lead. Although I use a petrol mower, I thought this product was about right for me considering that scarification is probably a once or twice a year task.Although it "folds away for convenient storage" when not in use it will still occupy at least as much space as the box it arrives in - which is worth considering if you are short of space.It has four height settings that are easily selected by adjusting the height of the front wheels with the two levers. The higher settings are used to collect surface debris, such as leaves, while the lower settings scarify thatch and moss and, inevitably, some grass.The only downside is that if your lawn is very uneven, you may find it hard to find a setting that will perform as you expect. This is a powerful piece of kit and, naturally, it will remove almost everything it finds indiscriminately so test it on the higher settings first.So unless you have a huge lawn and you are prepared to spend a lot more money on a petrol scarifier or you can manage happily with a smaller model, this does seem an excellent choice and good value on Amazon at under £100.Update July 2012 - the machine is still going strong but I have just replaced the tines (prongs) for the first time and it is raking out moss just like new. So, if your ALR900 seems to be less effective than it was, it is easy to fit new tines. You will just need a pair of pliers to make removal and re-fitting easier.Update November 2014 - I fitted a second set of replacement tines ready for the Autumn and I am pleased to report that the machine is still going strong and working as effectively as ever.