Autumn Lawn Care Advice

Autumn Lawn Care Advice: Tips for Maintaining a Lush and Healthy Lawn

Autumn Lawn Care Advice Leaves

As the weather begins to shift and autumn sets in, it’s time to adjust your lawn care routine. While the warm summer days may be gone, autumn lawn care is not necessarily more challenging. There are a few important tasks to carry out in order to strengthen your lawn’s roots and prepare it for the colder months ahead.

By following the advice below, you can ensure that your lawn not only survives the winter but also thrives in the following spring. These tasks will set you up for success and allow you to get right to work without any setbacks.

Key Takeaways

  • Autumn lawn care is essential for preparing your lawn for the winter and ensuring it thrives in the following spring.
  • There are a few important tasks to carry out in order to strengthen your lawn’s roots during autumn.
  • By following these tasks, you can set yourself up for success and avoid setbacks in the following spring.

Mowing

As the grass growth slows down during autumn, it is essential to reduce the frequency of mowing. Gradual reduction is the key to avoid shocking the lawn. For example, if someone mows their lawn once a week, they could start mowing every 10 days in the beginning and then reduce the frequency further.

It is important to keep the mowing height relatively high during this time. However, the last two mowings can be an exception. Setting the height lower than usual can promote better sunlight exposure for the grass blades, especially the shortest ones, which in turn promotes better growth. This also reduces the chances of grass turning brown.

Mowing should be done when the grass is dry to avoid damaging it. Wet grass is more vulnerable to damage, and it can also clog the mower. The mower blades should be sharp to ensure a clean cut, and the clippings should be left on the lawn to return nutrients to the soil.

It is also important to mow in different directions each time to avoid creating ruts in the lawn and to promote upright growth. A pattern of diagonal or criss-cross mowing can help achieve this.

Finally, it is essential to be mindful of the environment when mowing. Using a manual or electric mower can reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared to a petrol-powered mower. Additionally, leaving some areas of the lawn un-mowed can provide habitats for insects and other wildlife.

In summary, reducing the frequency of mowing during autumn and gradually adjusting the mowing height can help maintain a healthy lawn. Mowing should be done when the grass is dry, and the blades should be sharp. Mowing in different directions and being mindful of the environment can also contribute to a healthy lawn.

Controlling Moss

To maintain a healthy lawn, it is important to remove moss from it. The first step in controlling moss is to choose the right moss killer. There are two main types of moss killer available in the market, liquid and granular. Both types are equally effective, and it is up to personal preference which one to choose. However, it is important to check the ingredients of the moss killer before purchasing it. Many moss killers contain high amounts of nitrogen, which is ideal for spring lawns but not recommended for autumn lawns.

Best Selling Autumn Moss Killer

Last update on 2024-09-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Feeding

To ensure a healthy and robust lawn, it is essential to provide the necessary nutrients. In autumn, it is recommended to use fertilisers that are specifically designed for this season. Applying a fertiliser that is meant for spring can lead to damage or disease, as they are high in nitrogen, which promotes grass growth. However, nitrogen-rich fertilisers are not suitable for autumn, as the frost can damage the grass, leading to setbacks in spring.

The Best-Selling Autumn Fertiliser is an organic mix that contains high levels of potash and potassium. These nutrients help protect the lawn from frost and icy conditions, which are common in the UK during autumn. By strengthening the roots, the fertiliser promotes better growth and helps the lawn combat diseases and pests.

It is important to note that the results produced by synthetic fertilisers are short-lived and do not contribute to the long-term health of the lawn. Therefore, it is recommended to use an organic mix. While immediate results may not be visible, the long-term benefits will be well worth it in spring.

To summarise, applying the correct fertiliser is crucial in ensuring the metabolic process of the lawn is successful. Using the Best-Selling Autumn Fertiliser will help protect the lawn from frost and icy conditions, while also promoting better growth and long-term health.

Best Selling Autumn Fertiliser

Last update on 2024-09-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Top Dressing

Top dressing is a process that can be used to even out any slight bumps and hollows in a lawn. It involves adding a layer of soil mixture to the surface of the lawn, which can help to correct surface irregularities and improve the texture of the soil. Additionally, top dressing can provide long-term fertilization, which can help to keep the lawn healthy, especially during the winter months.

One of the key benefits of top dressing is that it can vastly improve the drainage of a lawn. Waterlogged lawns can be detrimental to the health of the grass, so it is important to consider drainage when preparing for winter. By adding a layer of top dressing, the drainage of the lawn can be significantly improved.

When applying top dressing, it is important to choose a dry day and use a mixture that is suitable for the type of soil in the lawn. A mix of sandy loam, sharp sand, and compost can be used for most soil types. The top dressing should be worked into the lawn using the back of a rake until all bumps are covered. A coverage of about 2-3 kg per square metre is recommended.

For more info on applying your topdressing and the mixture ratio read my post How to Top Dress Your Lawn“.

Scarifying / Raking

Autumn Lawn Care Advice Raking Leaves

To ensure proper penetration of water and fertiliser to grass roots, it is essential to clear dead grass, dead moss, and autumn leaves from the lawn. Scarifying or raking is a highly beneficial process that can help in this regard.

One can use a spring-tined rake to dig up all the thatch by dragging it through the grass until the entire lawn is covered or until all the thatch is removed. This can free up space and allow easy access to the grass roots, making it easier to apply fertiliser. However, manual raking can be a physically exhausting task.

Alternatively, powered lawn rakes or scarifiers can be used for quicker and more effective results. The best time to scarify or rake the lawn is during autumn, as the lawn is less delicate than during spring. During autumn, one can dig a little deeper and rake less delicately.

In summary, scarifying or raking is an effective way to clear thatch and dead material from the lawn, allowing proper penetration of water and fertiliser to grass roots. It can be done manually using a spring-tined rake or with the help of powered lawn rakes or scarifiers for quicker and more effective results. Autumn is the ideal time for scarifying or raking as it is less delicate than during spring.

Aerating

Aerating is a process that helps to reduce soil compaction, improve the movement of air, nutrients, and water within the soil, and enable the lawn to cope with extreme conditions such as drought or heavy rainfall. For those who need to treat damage caused by water-logging or soil compaction, using a hollow-tined aerator is recommended. This extracts plugs of turf, which gives even better access to the roots. It is important to rake up all the plugs and apply topdressing afterwards.

For those who do not have severe problems, a garden rake can be used to puncture the holes, aiming for about 10-15 cm apart. However, for those who want to get the best results, a powered lawn aerator is the way to go.

Best Selling Powered Lawn Aerators

Last update on 2024-09-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Levelling The Lawn

If your lawn has bumps and hollows that are too big to be dealt with topdressing, levelling the lawn is the answer. This process is not difficult if you follow the correct instructions.

To level the lawn, start by slicing down the center of the bump or hollow with a spade to split it in half. Then, push the spade underneath one side of the turf to cut its roots and pull it back in a strip. Do the same for the other side.

For a bump, remove soil to the required height. For a hollow, add soil to the required height. Make sure you use the same or similar soil to that of your lawn. If you have both bumps and hollows, recycle the removed soil.

Fold the strip back and stamp down on the turf using the spade. Keep the lawn watered over the next few weeks to ensure proper growth.

By following these instructions, you can level your lawn and look forward to a great spring.

Autumn Lawn Care Checklist

Lawn Mower

Before winter sets in, it is important to raise the cutting height on your lawn mower to allow for that longer grass length. This will help to protect the grass from the cold weather.

Lawn Feeds and Moss Killers

Finding the right lawn feeds and moss killers that are suitable for autumn use is vital to ensure that your lawn stays healthy throughout the winter months. Applying lawn feeds and moss killers in the autumn can help to strengthen the roots of the grass, making it more resilient to the cold weather.

Clearing Leaves and Debris

Clearing leaves and debris from your lawn is essential to ensure that it stays healthy throughout the winter months. You can simply brush your lawn, but using a cordless or electric leaf blower and vacuum will make your task much more effective and efficient.

Conclusion

Maintaining a beautiful, healthy lawn throughout the year requires a different approach during the autumn months. By following the tips provided in this article, you can ensure that your lawn remains thick, green, and resilient, even in the colder months.

To summarise, here are some key takeaways to keep in mind when caring for your lawn during the autumn months:

  • Continue to mow the lawn regularly, but adjust the blade height to avoid cutting the grass too short.
  • Remove fallen leaves and other debris from the lawn to prevent them from blocking sunlight and air from reaching the grass.
  • Aerate the lawn to improve drainage and allow air to circulate around the roots.
  • Apply a fertiliser specifically designed for autumn use to promote healthy growth and resilience.
  • Consider overseeding to fill in any bare patches and thicken the lawn.

By following these tips, you can ensure that your lawn remains healthy and vibrant throughout the autumn and into the following year.

 

Mark Haley Author
Lawnmower Product Expert, Reviewer and Author at EasyLawnMowing.co.uk | 01284 615144 | info@easylawnmowing.co.uk | Website | + posts

As a seasoned expert in the field of garden power tools, I have dedicated over a decade to working with and reviewing a wide variety of lawn mowers. My extensive experience has allowed me to gain a deep understanding of the benefits and limitations of different types of mowers and garden tools.

Over the years, I have honed my skills in writing informative articles and creating helpful videos for various blogs and publications. This has given me the ability to not only recognise what makes a good lawn mower, but also to help you choose the perfect garden tool for your specific needs and requirements.

With my wealth of knowledge and expertise, I am confident that I can provide you with valuable insights and recommendations when it comes to selecting the right lawn mower for your lawn. So, whether you're looking for a battery cordless, electric, petrol, or robotic mower, you can trust in my expertise to guide you towards the best option for your garden.

4 thoughts on “Autumn Lawn Care Advice: Tips for Maintaining a Lush and Healthy Lawn”

  1. Nice article! very thorough. However, that lawn had no weeds or crabgrass like my lawn does. How and when do I get rid of these invasive plants? I have no doubt you have a solution so if you have the time, I could use your help. Thank you for the great article!

    Karl

    1. Thanks Karl! The best way to combat weeds is to keep your lawn as healthy as possible, if you’ve been having quite a big problem then maybe there’s something you’re not doing. I think the best course of action for you is to check out my posts on lawn care for different seasons – here’s for summer and here’s for spring. By following the advice in these posts I’m sure you’ll get your lawn to a state where it’s strong and healthy enough to prevent all weeds from appearing. 

      As for right now I would apply a weed & feed (organic if available) to the lawn to get rid of the weeds, or remove them manually if you want ;-)

  2. Just read your autumn lawn care advice.

    Very informative post that covers all the aspects including things to consider in the Fall like Mowing, Feeding, Top Dressing, Scarifying (thatch removal), Aerating and Leveling The Lawn.

    I personally love to have a green healthy lawn and this was a good reminder that you can take some fairly simple and low labor steps to ensuring your lawn is healthy in the Autumn helps to have a healthy green lawn in the spring.

    The video was helpful and was a great visual. I learned something new, an easy way to aerate and some great seed, feed and grass growing products.

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