Autumn lawn care (September - November)

After a long summer with heavy use use, your lawn can get worn out and looking a little worse for wear.

Autumn is the ideal time to give your lawns a pick-me-up and ensure it’s in the best possible shape to last through the winter.

With longer summers and usually a lack of water, it’s best to hold on until September when there has been some rain and you can see the grass is recovering and growing again.

Tackle moss and thatch

If your lawn is spongy then it’s likely you have a moss problem. Usually found under trees and hedges, this tiny plant will quickly spread so treat with a mosskiller or lawn sand across the lawn and leave it until it turns black (usually a couple of weeks).

Rake the dead moss vigorously with a spring-tined lawn rake (if you need a new rake – take a look at our range here).

Whilst raking you’ll also remove masses of old grass clippings, weeds and other debris that can form a thick mat above the surface of the soil. This thatch prevents the lawn from breathing properly, stops rain from penetrating effectively and encourages lawn diseases to prosper.

If you have a large lawn it can be worthwhile hiring a powered raking machine.

Improve drainage

Lawns that have been subjected to heavy traffic over the summer often become very compacted, leading to problems with drainage. This could result in the spread of moss of water lying in puddles on the surface.

Aerate the lawn – either with a fork at regular 10cm intervals, or with an aerator.

Fill these holes with a sandy top dressing (available from garden centres), working with a broom along the surface.
 
If you have a large lawn it can be worthwhile hiring a powered aerating machine.

Successful autumn seeding

Seeding in the fall is the ideal time because the weather conditions are perfect for grass to grow. 

The hot, dry summer is past and the soil is still warm and we are seeing more frequent rain.

Most likely your lawn will need to repair itself so it can survive through the winter. 

Use grass seed to overseed areas which may have been damaged during the summer and provide you with an attractive, thicker and greener lawn.  Take a look at our range of grass seed

Feeding

Finish by using an autumn lawn feed. These are high in phosphates and potassium, and will result in healthy root growth that will ensure the grass is in the best possible condition to cope with whatever winter throws at it.

Do not be tempted to use a spring feed instead - this is high in nitrogen and will result in soft, sappy growth that is easily damaged by cold weather such as frosts.

Download our lawn maintenance schedule for a handy print out guide to stick in your shed or garage.