Autumn Lawncare

September really is the best time of the year to address your lawn!

With the earth still warm and wet, doing just a few lawncare activities in the autumn will help to keep your lawn in great shape and get it off to a flying start next year. It doesn’t take too long and is well worth the time and effort!

Step 1: Apply an autumn feed

Autumn lawn fertilisers differ from those applied in the spring in that the balance of nutrients encourages good root growth. This helps with drought resistance and vigour the following year. The autumn feeds also toughen up the top growth, making it better equipped to deal with the rigours of winter. Autumn feeds are available as either granular, liquid or soluble. Some also have a moss-killer incorporated, so choose one of these if moss is a problem on the lawn.

Granular feeds are best applied with a spreader. The soil should be relatively moist and the grass should be dry at the time of application. If it doesn’t rain within 24hrs of applying the granular feed, it will be necessary to water the feed in to avoid scorching. We would recommend Evergreen Autumn 2 in 1 or Westland Autumn and Winter Lawn Enhancer, both available as a hand spreader or Scotts Adjustable Lawn Spreader.

Step 2: Rake out any treated moss.

If you have applied a moss-killer it is important to rake out any treated moss once it has turned black. Use either a spring tine rake with good downward pressure - such as Solus' Carbon Steel Lawn Rake or Wolf's Multi-Change Lawn Rake. If there is a large area to treat, use an electric scarifier, available to hire or buy at Yorkshire Mower World.

It is quite hard work to scarify manually, so it may be beneficial to divide the lawn and tackle smaller areas rather than the whole lot in one go. The lawn will also look a bit of a mess immediately afterwards, but in no time at all it will look much, much better and really benefit from the treatment.

Step 3: Aerate the lawn

The lawn is likely to be compacted after summer usage, particularly if the soil is on the heavy side. To aerate the lawn, spike with a lawn aerator to a depth of at least 7-8cm or try Bosmere's Aerating Shoes . It is advisable to wait until there is some moisture in the ground otherwise clay soils, in particular, can be so hard it will be difficult to get an aerator in. It is also a good idea to use a reasonably good quality aerator that won’t bend under the strain! For heavy duty work, we would recommend Bosmere's Lawn Spiker Aerator.

Step 4: Overseeding the lawn

This is an excellent way to thicken and renew the lawn and really does give it a new lease of life. Essentially, it involves applying grass seed over an existing lawn and is a practice used by greenkeepers to keep football pitches, golf courses etc in good condition.

Firstly, lightly rake over the surface of the lawn with a spring tine rake unless you have recently raked out treated lawn moss, in which case there is no need to do this. Then apply the grass seed. Choose a type of grass seed that suits your garden and the frequency you want to cut the lawn. Westland's Surestart Lawn Seed is a good multi-purpose solution and Miracle Gro's Patch Magic is ideal for repairs and small areas but a member of our team will be happy to advise you further.

The seed should be applied at a rate of about 20grammes per square metre - this is roughly a small handful over two square metres.

Step 5: Apply a top dressing

Top dressing will help the grass seed to ‘take’ after over-seeding and even if you do not over-seed it is still very beneficial and will help improve the health and appearance of the lawn and the texture of the soil. You can buy ready mixed turf dressing, try Westland's Surestart Lawn Seedling Soil or Westland's Lawn & Turf Dressing. 

For more advice, just ask a member of our team in store.

Frequently Asked Autumn Lawncare Questions

Our lawn has bare patches? Should we wait until spring to sort it?

Autumn is the perfect time to tackle patches, giving the grass roots time to get established and helping the lawn to resist drought and wear next year. You have two alternatives, either reseed or returf.

Reseed by gently forking the area, levelling the surface then lightly watering the soil. Sow your seed, then cover with fleece to protect from birds while it germinates. Alternatively, cut out the turf around the dead grass, leaving a firm, level space at the correct depth, then trim a new piece of turf to fit. Brush in compost to fill the gaps then water well.

What type of feed should I use on my lawn in autumn?

Always use an autumn lawnfeed as they are high in potash and phosphates, giving the grass essential nutrients to develop a strong root system, attractive dark green colour and resistance to disease in the colder, winter months ahead.

Do I really need to top dress my lawn?

Yes, top dressing will help improve the quality of your soil! When you have aerated your lawn, filling the holes with a top dressing prevents them from closing up again and increases drainage to promote healthy grass growth.

My lawn is very uneven, what can I do?

Wetting and drying cycles throughout summer can cause hollows and bumps, and autumn is the best time to deal with this. Cut into the turf, then cut under the problem area so you can carefully peel it back. Fill with one part topsoil and 2 parts fine sand, or remove excess soil to level the bump. Replace the turf and tamp down with the back of a rake. Work topsoil into the cut edges and water well. It will take a few weeks to settle.