Whilst you may not be using your lawn as much in Autumn, there’s still plenty of small jobs to be done to keep it looking its best. In this blog we share our top tips for Autumn lawn care.
Prepare your Lawn for Winter in Autumn
In summer, we look forward to having the greenest and lushest lawn on the street, so much so that we often forget about how our grass looks in winter. Part of your autumn lawn care should be winter feeding, which will strengthen it against the coming winter so that when spring rolls quickly back around, it hasn’t fallen foul to winter disease or frost. Winter feeds such as our Winter Remedy are high in the nutrients Phosphate and Potassium that strengthen the root system of your grass and help it to build up immunity against disease. Whatever product you decide to use to protect your lawn this winter, make sure to always read the instructions – and don’t be tempted to use the last of your summer lawn food!
Brush Away Wormcasts
With the mild weather we’ve experienced so far this Autumn, wormcasts may appear on your lawn. Although worms are biologically good for your lawn, their casts can ruin its overall appearance, and you may be wondering what you can do about this. Even though wormcasts can be easily brushed away, it's best to wait until it has been dry outside for a few days, which will help avoid it becoming a very messy task!
Remove Autumn Leaves
As combinations go, leaves and lawns are up there with the worst for all lawn aficionados. Whilst they are dry, they make quite the picturesque view – but when wet they can cause a whole host of issues to your grass. Because they cover your lawn and deprive it of the air and light it needs to stay healthy, this can encourage patchy grass and discourage new growth. Likewise, the extra layer of constant moisture can create fungus / disease. Add this task to your autumn lawn care regime, and make sure to rake up the leaves on your lawn. You can even repurpose them in unused areas of your garden to create a habitat for wildlife, the hedgehogs will thank you later!
Remove Last Mower Clippings
When completing your last mow of the season, it’s important to remove the clippings from your lawn for the exact same reason you remove leaves. Some professionals may leave clippings on the lawn to return the nutrients back into the soil, but we would recommend that you don’t do this – too much or too little, then this kind of activity can cause more harm than good. You can, however, use your grass clippings for mulch to add to your flower beds or borders to keep them weed free.
Autumn Lawn Care 101 - Service Your Lawnmower
If you love your lawn like we do, then you’ll want to avoid any potential damage to your lawn. Blunt blades on your lawnmower can damage your grass and cause yellow tips to form. Since you won't be using your lawnmower again until spring, late autumn is a good time of the year to get it serviced. This will ensure everything's in working order, the blades are sharp and will usually involve an oil change if it's a petrol mower.
For further reading on looking after your lawn, you will find our ultimate grass seed sowing guide helpful.
We also have a detailed guide on how to choose the right lawn food for your garden to keep it green and healthy all year round!