Seasonal Lawn Care: Autumn

So summer is over and the leaves are starting to fall – Autumn has arrived! Now is the time to tidy and prepare your lawn ready for the cooler months ahead.

Clearing

• Keep your lawn clear of fallen leaves and debris using a rake or a brush. Leaving leaves on the lawn can smother the grass, turning it brown. Leaves also break down on the lawn and cause a build up of thatch, then you’ll need to scarify to remove this!

Mowing

• As autumn sets in, your lawn will need mowing less frequently and the end of autumn/ start of winter will probably see your final cut of the year.
• Set you mower height to one of the higher settings to avoid cutting the grass to short.

Feeding

• It is a good idea to give your lawn an autumn feed ready for the winter. This will help to keep it green, toughen it up ready for the colder months and prevent the onset of diseases.
• Aerate compacted soils to allow air and water to reach the roots, improving drainage and encouraging strong deep root growth.

Scarifying

• This is only necessary if moss or thatch is a problem in your lawn. Autumn is a good time to scarify and tidy the lawn ready for winter. Use a moss killer and then rake out the moss when it has turned a brown colour. You can tell if there is thatch in your lawn as it will feel spongy or springy when you walk on it. If you have a large garden, you may want to invest in an electric scarifier to make things much easier!