Lawn care in autumn. Autumn lawn care tips: how to get yours looking its best this season

Autumn lawn care tips: how to get yours looking its best this season

On the hunt for autumn lawn care tips? You’ve come to the right place. Chances are your lawn is probably in need of some TLC after the long, hot summer – and autumn is the best time to revitalize it. With a bit of know-how, it’s easy to give it a boost ahead of the winter months.

Using lawn edging ideas goes a long way in smartening up your patch of turf, but there are some tasks to be getting on with to ensure the grass itself stays in tip-top condition. This season is a good time to repair any bare patches by reseeding or returfing, remove any build-up of moss and dead grass (known as scarification), and improve drainage by spiking the lawn with a fork (known as aeration) then top dressing it with a sandy topsoil mix.

You can also feed the lawn with a fertilizer designed especially for autumn. There are a few pests you’ll want to look out for too. And, you’ll be gearing up towards that final mow, before your lawn mower retires to the shed for winter. Our guide explains all the advice you need to know.

Autumn lawn care tips: 6 simple steps for keeping yours healthy

Follow the autumn lawn care tips below and your grass will soon be in top shape. It’s easier than you might think.

Repair any bare patches

First on the list for autumn lawn care jobs is to look for any ‘bald’ patches in the grass – a common problem after excessive use or a dry summer. If you spot some, don’t worry – it’s easy to sort out.

Loosen the soil with a fork and fill the area with a scoop of potting compost. Then thickly sprinkle over a grass seed mix. Be sure to choose the right one as there’s a huge range available, including mixes for shady lawns, as well as hard-wearing and drought-tolerant blends. Water well and protect the area from birds and pets with a piece of chicken wire.

If a bigger area needs replacing, you can use fresh turf from the garden center, but remember to lay it quickly so it doesn’t have a chance to dry out. You will need to cut out a square or rectangle for each area that needs attention and level the soil to fit the depth of your new turf. Ease each section in and firm down so there are no gaps, then water it in well.

‘The relative warmth and dampness of October and early November are ideal for sowing and turfing a lawn, but September is often still too dry, unless you have the time and patience for regular watering,’ advises Ruth Hayes, gardening editor of Amateur Gardening. You can find more info on how to repair lawn patches in our guide.

Scarify your lawn

The build-up of moss and dead grass that accumulates on a lawn is known as thatch. As part of your autumn lawn care routine, you can remove it by raking the surface. This will let in more light, and improve air circulation and drainage.

Want something more heavy-duty? Scarifiers are good as they have rotating blades that lift out the thatch to save you the job. They often have an aerator attachment too, that makes small holes in the ground for better air circulation and water and nutrient absorption.

You can find more expert tips on how to scarify a lawn in our in-depth feature.

Add an autumn lawn fertilizer

From October to mid-March, the aim is to keep the lawn in good condition but not encourage it to grow. So one important thing not to do in autumn is feed your lawn with nitrogen-rich food, as explains Ruth of Amateur Gardening. Nitrogen will provoke excessive new growth that will be vulnerable when the colder weather comes.

‘Instead, use a specific autumn lawn feed to strengthen the grass,’ she says. What’s more, many have moss killer incorporated into them, which strips out the grass’ main competitor for light, air and nutrients.

Water the feed in well so it gets to the roots where it’s most needed, or even better, schedule this for a day when rain is forecast later on. If you want to up your yard’s eco-friendly credentials, look for pet- and wildlife-safe products that are suitable for organic gardening.

Aerate and top dress it

The surface of a lawn is often hard and compact by the end of summer, which means that rainwater can’t soak in. This can lead to waterlogging, especially when the winter weather hits, and isn’t good for your grass. The solution: learn how to aerate a lawn.

To do so, drive in a garden fork 4in (10cm) deep at regular intervals (4in/10cm or so apart) all over the lawn, gently rocking it as you do so to loosen things up and get air to the roots.

To help drainage further and keep your lawn healthy, scatter over a top dressing that is a mix of sharp sand, compost and topsoil (you can buy these ready mixed from garden centers) to fill the holes. Then, sweep over with a brush to keep things looking spick and span.

Keep on top of fallen leaves

As deciduous trees drop their leaves, it’s important to keep on top of removing them from your lawn. Leaving them can result in a proliferation of damaging pests, plus mould and lichen build-up that can become a real problem. One of our best garden rakes will come in handy for the job, or for quicker results, opt for a leaf blower.

Rather than letting the leaves go to waste, why not learn how to make leaf mould and create a rich mulch for your garden borders instead?

Neaten up the edges

Are the borders of your lawn looking a little frayed? Edging them with a half-moon cutter or digging a ditch and piling the soil on a nearby flowerbed immediately creates definition and neatness throughout the garden. It’s an easy addition to your autumn lawn care to-do list, and is super satisfying.

Go a step further by installing some new garden edging to really give your yard a lift.

What lawn pests should you watch out for in autumn?

In autumn, moles may still be active, and can be deterred with repellent granules which are widely available. Molehill soil can be added to your borders.

Watch out for chafer grubs too. These ‘are the larvae of chafer beetles and are mainly active between September and April,’ says Ruth of Amateur Gardening. ‘They eat grass roots, causing yellow, dying patches. Matters aren’t helped by birds pecking at the lawn to get to the grubs.

‘Treat with a parasitic nematode when conditions are warm, and maintain good lawn care to reduce pest numbers.’

And if you spot worm casts on your lawn, don’t despair. ‘They are unsightly rather than a major problem, though they can encourage moss and weeds to take hold,’ says Ruth. ‘Wait until they are dry, then brush them off with a broom or sweep the upturned head of a rake across them to disperse them into the soil.’

If your lawn intruders are of the plant variety, then our guide on how to get rid of lawn weeds is definitely worth a look.

When should you stop mowing your lawn before winter?

In summer, you might need to mow your lawn as much as twice a week to keep it in check. However, in fall this can drop down to once a week for conventional lawns, as advises the RHS. Your last ‘regular’ cut will generally be around late October to November – it depends on when the weather gets cold enough for the grass to stop growing.

After this, a lawn generally won’t need mowing at all until spring – around March. If you do give it a winter mow, keep it on a high setting, and don’t do it in frosty or wet conditions which can damage the grass.

If you need an upgrade for the job, our guide to the best lawn mowers will come in handy.

Essential Tips for Fall Lawn Care

Fall is the ideal season for many things, such as pumpkin carving and playing in piles of leaves. It is also the best time to newly seed or overseed a lawn. Fall lawn care practices are essential for lawns to be able to withstand the winter period of dormancy and frost. By taking the time to care for your lawn this fall, you’ll prime it to grow greener and healthier next spring!

When to Start Fall Lawn Care

Time is of the essence when it comes to fall lawn care. Start fall lawn care once summer has ended and before cold, winter weather begins. Assess your lawn for summer damage and tailor your fall lawn care routine to address your lawn’s specific needs.

If you have a cool-season lawn, plant grass seed at least 45 days before the first fall frost. It is also crucial to fertilize your lawn in the fall if you live in the Northern part of the U.S.

Aim to get one application of fertilizer in between mid-August and mid-September, and another in early November (as long as there is no snow on the ground) to safeguard the lawn for winter.

Fall Lawn Care Tips

Control Weeds

Contrary to popular belief, fall is the best time to control lawn weeds before spring.

Broadleaf weeds, such as dandelions, chickweed, and henbit germinate in the cool, moist weather that occurs between September and October. The germinated weed seeds overwinter as small plants, then rapidly grow and flower with the arrival of warm, spring weather.

Once weeds have reached the flowering stage, they become incredibly difficult to control. This is why you should tackle weed problems in the fall before they become well-established.

Use weed killer, such as Lawn Weed Control. to control actively growing weeds in your lawn. If you apply Lawn Weed Control and plan on seeding in the fall, you must wait 30 days to seed post-application.

Remove Excess Thatch

Thatch is a layer of organic matter consisting of stems, dead grass, and leaves, that builds up above the soil and below the crown of the grass blades. Thatch is a normal part of every lawn, but too much thatch can cause headaches for your yard.

Thatch buildup that is more than ½ an inch thick on your lawn can block access to air, water, and nutrients that grass seedlings need to grow. Excess thatch on your lawn can also harbor disease-causing fungi and insects that weaken and ultimately kill your grass.

Remove excess thatch by using a metal rake or a dethatcher machine. It should look like the picture below:

A person using a dethatching rake on the lawn.

Do not rake so vigorously that healthy green grass is removed from your lawn.

Aerate Compacted Soil

Compacted soil can inhibit healthy root development and limit the flow of oxygen to the soil. Soil must be loose and porous prior to seeding for grass seedlings to germinate and grow.

Core aeration removes soil plugs from your yard, therefore creating space in the soil for air, water, and necessary nutrients to travel to your lawn’s root system. A core aerator can be rented from most garden centers or hardware stores.

If you’re looking for an alternative to heavy and unwieldy aerators, Jonathan Green Love Your Soil® naturally loosens compacted soil and increases necessary airflow to your lawn’s root system. Plus, you don’t need extra equipment, it’s easily applied with the same spreader you use for grass seed and fertilizer.

For more tips on treating compacted soil, check out our How to Treat Soil Compaction article.

Overseed a Thinning Lawn

If you want a thicker, greener lawn for spring, fall is the perfect time to overseed! The hot, summer sun has probably done a number on your grass, causing thin or dead spots. Take advantage of the fall season’s warm soil temperatures, ample moisture, and cool nights to thicken up a thinning lawn.

To prepare your lawn for overseeding, adjust your mower to the lowest setting and mow the area you want to seed. Be sure to bag clippings afterward. After mowing, rake the area with a metal rake to create grooves in the soil and remove dead grass and debris. This will help grass seeds make seed-to-soil contact and improve the rate of germination.

Next, spread grass seed. For larger areas, spread seed with a rotary spreader. You should wait until your new grass grows to about four inches before mowing.

Want a complete guide to overseeding? Click on this How to Overseed Your Lawn article !

Feed Your Lawn

Fertilizing your cool-season lawn during fall is important to repair summer damage, supply it with nutrients to withstand the brutal winter months, and green up quicker in spring.

Cool season grasses like to be fertilized twice in the fall – one application in early fall (late August to September) and another in late fall (late October to November). The first application helps strengthen weak or brown spots from summer and the second helps to protect your lawn against winter disease. Make sure your second application occurs before the ground freezes.

Opt for a fertilizer rich in both potassium and nitrogen (the N and K in the NPK ratio found on the front of fertilizer bags) such as Winter Survival Fall Lawn Fertilizer. Nitrogen aids in plant growth and greener grass. Potassium builds stronger cell walls and root systems, which helps your lawn endure times of stress and harsh weather conditions.

Lower Mower Height

As your grass is still growing throughout fall, it is important to continue to maintain a regular mowing schedule. Once grass growth begins to slow down, lower your mower height to about 2.5 inches. For the last mow of fall, which will usually be between late October to early November, drop your mower to 2 inches to discourage winter disease, such as snow mold.

Water Your Lawn as Needed

Fall weather signals the end of sweltering, summer heat and the need to frequently water your lawn. Rainfall in autumn results in less evaporation and more moisture so your lawn can sustain itself. While this means your grass needs less to drink in the fall, this doesn’t mean you should stop watering altogether.

Water your lawn as needed, making sure it receives about one inch of water per week, including rainfall. Use a rain gauge (an inexpensive tool found at most garden centers) to keep track of how much water it receives. Continue to water your lawn until the ground freezes.

For a complete guide to watering your lawn, visit our How to Water Your Lawn page!

Remove Leaves

While fall leaves may look picturesque on your lawn they can be harmful to your grass. Leaving piled-up leaves on your lawn blocks necessary sunlight for new grass seedlings. If your lawn is damp, wet leaves can encourage lawn fungus and kill the grass underneath.

Remove leaves from your lawn by using a leaf blower or a rake. For newly seeded lawns it is best to use a leaf blower, as a rake may damage or hinder new seedlings from growing. If you choose to rake, carefully glide the rake over the leaves when the soil is dry to remove them.

Another great option for handling fall leaves on existing lawns is mulching them in. This helps to break down the leaves into nutrient-rich organic matter for your soil and lawn to absorb. If you have too many leaves, bag extra fall leaves and add them to your compost pile.

For easy, step-by-step instructions to compost fall leaves, read this How to Make Leaf Compost article !

Conclusion

If you have cool-season grass, fall is without a doubt the best season to care for your lawn! Feeding your lawn in fall repairs summer damage and gives it a boost of nutrients to survive the brutal winter ahead. If you want a thick carpet of dark green grass by spring, use fall to overseed or fill in any bare spots. Maintaining a mowing schedule and managing fall leaves will both prevent lawn fungus. Got some great fall lawn care tips of your own? Leave them in the Комментарии и мнения владельцев below!

Want more essential tips for fall lawn care? Explore these articles:

Fall Checklist for Yard and Lawn Care

If you’re dreaming of wandering barefooted through a green lawn in spring, you must care for it in the fall.

Fall lawn care doesn’t have to be complicated and makes the difference between having a healthy green lawn or a patchy brown one come spring. This checklist of basic fall lawn care steps will help make sure that next year, you’ll start spring with a flourishing, healthy lawn.

Keep Mowing the Lawn

Don’t put away the mower yet. Continuing to keep your lawn mowed properly is another important step in your lawn care for fall chores. It might not be performing with the robust growth it had during spring and summer, but the grass hasn’t achieved full dormancy yet. It’s still growing. Dormancy occurs with the first fall frost.

Maintaining a proper mowing height is essential in keeping your grass healthy and prepared for winter and keeping it insulated. If you allow the grass to grow too long, it has a tendency to form mats, which makes it vulnerable to a host of fungal problems such as snow mold.

The advice in summer is to mow higher, but as the temperatures fall, set the lawn mower’s height lower gradually. But not too low: Cutting the grass too short obstructs the development of a healthy root system. Grass roots grow as deeply as the turf’s height with normal mowing. Cutting too short impedes it from growing deeply enough. You end up with turfgrass that is weaker when it comes to withstanding the cold and dryness of winter.

Don’t Leave the Leaves

Those with four seasons look forward the beauty of early fall foliage and watching leaves change from green to autumn colors of gold, bronze, red and purple. Few, however, look forward to the cleanup. Once those eye-catching leaves start dropping from the trees you don’t want to leave them lay on the ground covering your lawn. Layers of leaves covering your grass block out sunlight and trap moisture, which will leave you with bare spots of dead grass. In addition, they can promote disease and insect problems. Next spring, the covered areas will most likely be soggy and dead.

Two schools of thought have developed on leaf-raking: a bit at a time, or all at once. Either way, the end goal is the same. You want to prevent a thick layer of leaves from choking off your lawn.

Do not let those fallen leaves go to waste. Use a mulching mower to chop them into a fine mulch, or add them to a compost pile.

Aerating

Every couple of years, regardless of whether you live in the North or South, it beneficial to your turf to aerate your lawn. Aerating helps reduce soil compaction and thatch, a thick buildup of debris, roots and grass stems. If your turf has too much thatch, oxygen, nutrients and water cannot reach the roots, leading to unhealthy grass. Using a core aerator, which punches holes through the thatch and removes plugs of soil, will solve the problem and allow nutrients, water and oxygen to reach the roots. When it comes to your fall lawn care schedule, the Penn State Extension recommends you aerate your lawn before applying your fall application of fertilizer or overseeding.

Overseeding With Grass Seed

If you live in southern portions of the country and your lawn is made up of warm-season grass, you don’t have to worry about seeding until spring or summer. However, those living in northern regions with cool-season lawns should overseed their entire lawn or repair bare patches in fall. This chore is best done after aeration to give the new grass a chance to make good soil contact. Overseeding is primarily done with bunching cool-season grasses such as fine and tall fescue, and annual and perennial ryegrass. Warm-season Bermudagrass is also sometimes overseeded in fall with a cool-season seed.

Fertilizing in Fall

Late fall will be the last feeding you give your lawn until spring. Take a walk down your local garden center fertilizer aisle and you are bound to find various products for winterizing your turfgrass. JayDee Gunnell, Horticultural Agent, Davis County (Utah) Extension suggests that the best time to put down your fall lawn fertilizer is in late October or early November using a quick-release nitrogen blend. Apply after you have mowed for the last time. For those living in frost-free climates where you will periodically mow through winter, should still apply the product in late fall. He notes that even though your lawn might not look like it’s growing, nutrients seep down to the root system where it’s stored, helping the grass green early in spring when it starts growing again. Always water the fertilizer into the grass after applying.

Fall is also the ideal time to amend the soil according to a soil test. Adding organic matter to soil this time of year gives it a chance to work itself into the soil an give you a beautiful lawn in spring. Contact your local extension service to see if it offers soil testing. Many do, at a nominal cost.

Weed Control

Face it – weeds are a royal pain, especially when they try to invade your lush lawn. Although to most, a weed is a weed, their lifecycle of whether they perform as annuals or perennials will distinguish when treatment is best. Annuals perform their entire lifecycle in one year, whereas perennials can continue growing for years, springing back to life each year from the same root system.

When it comes to fall lawn care for weeds, JayDee Gunnell suggests when dealing with annual weeds such as spurge and crabgrass, an important time for treatment is in early spring using a pre-emergent weed killer. However, when it comes to treating perennial weeds like morning glory or dandelions, he suggests it’s best to wait until after the first light frost in fall. Once this happens, the weed diverts all its energy down into the root system, making it easier for the herbicide to seep into the roots, killing it. Mr. Gunnell notes that spraying perennial weeds at this time is more effective in killing them.

Irrigation

Although the heat of summer is long past and the growth of your grass has slowed, this doesn’t mean you should stop lawn irrigation. Those living in climates where freezes and snow are common should continue watering their turf until the first freeze. However, those living in warmer locations should continue irrigating their lawn every two to three weeks, depending on local weather conditions.

If you water your grass with an irrigation system and you live in a northern climate where freezes are common, you should expect to keep your system up and running until October’s end. Next, you will want to disconnect the system’s hoses and flush the entire system to help prevent frozen spigots and pipes. Those living in consistently warm climates can keep their sprinklers running year-round.

Stay on Your Fall Lawn Care Schedule

To keep your lawn in its best shape, prepare it for winter so it’s performing at its peak comes spring, it is important to carry out these tasks at the appropriate time. For example, if you fertilize your turfgrass too early the tender grass blades will become decimated with winter’s cold. In addition, if you fertilize the grass too late in the season the root system doesn’t have time to absorb the nutrients. In addition, if you overseed too late in the season the grass seedlings are too immature and tender to survive winter.

If you find that some of the chores like aerating and overseeding are more than you want or can handle on your own, you can always hire a lawn service to pick up the slack. This eliminates the need to go out and rent equipment to perform these tasks and the lawn service will have experience in these areas. Just remember, taking proper care of your lawn in fall guarantees you’ll enter spring with a green, healthy yard.

Joyce Starr

Joyce Starr has been writing on horticultural and landscaping topics for over 15 years. In addition, for the past 20 years she’s owned and operated a landscaping and design business. She shares her experience and passion for all things green through her writing.

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Fall lawn care – 8 expert tips for grass maintenance

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Fall lawn care is something that is often overlooked when the weather starts to change, making it less inviting to be outdoors, but good practice can make a big difference over winter and particularly in early spring when you want to make your lawn green and thick.

However, fall lawn care shouldn’t just be done with thoughts of spring ahead. Now is also the perfect time to look for and prevent common lawn problems, such as patches in grass. And while you might not treat every issue right now, you can start to prepare the ground for lawn repairs later.

Here, we have rounded up top experts’ advice for fall lawn care so yours can over-winter in good health.

Fall lawn care

We are all guilty of some basic mistakes when it comes to fall lawn care before the grass goes dormant for the winter. Here is how to avoid them.

Seed your lawn

Seeding a lawn in early fall can help make a lawn green and thick the following spring. ‘In order to establish well, grass seed requires the right amount of warmth, light, water, seed distribution, and good contact with the soil. Generally speaking, this means that any time between March and October will fit the bill but September is the golden month to do this important garden job,’ explains Guy Jenkins, lawn expert at Johnsons Lawn Seed.

‘As the days get shorter in fall, grass starts to enter its dormant period and migrating birds begin to head home, meaning there are fewer of them around to gobble your freshly scattered seeds.’

Seeding in fall comes under two categories: planting grass seed for the first time, and overseeding a lawn in fall.

When seeding a new lawn, Guy suggests that; ‘ideally the soil should be moist, warm and soft, so choose your time wisely, waiting until there’s been some decent rainfall and when the weather is temperate. Prepare the seedbed well by ridding it of perennial weeds, breaking up hard, lumpy areas, and removing large stones.

‘Turn over the soil to let in some oxygen and dig in some well-rotted organic matter if the soil is especially poor or sandy. Tread the area over to firm soil down and leave to settle for a few weeks. If you’re sowing a large area divide it into sections using string held in position with garden canes, then sow evenly at the rate stated on the box. Lightly rake the seed into the soil and water gently with as fine a spray as possible, trying not to cause puddles that will swamp the seeds and cause them to clump.

‘Finally, keep off the grass! Give seeds a chance to properly establish, watering regularly in the absence of rain.’

‘The quickest way to revive your existing lawn is by carrying out overseeding,’ says Lawn care expert David Truby, Managing Director of Greensleeves. ‘Overseeding is a rejuvenating lawn treatment that can be applied in addition to scarification or aeration. Not only does this improve your lawn’s quality, but it also repairs bare patches and makes the lawn hardier by increasing shade, drought tolerance, and resistance to disease.’

Fertilize your lawn

Alongside seeding or overseeding your lawn, grass, like other plants, benefits greatly from a well-timed layer of fertilizer in fall.

‘Over the summer months, the prolonged heat, wildlife, or general wear and tear will have damaged your lawn. This makes fall the most important time of year for a lawn feed. Knowing how to fertilize a lawn and using the correct fertilizers will help your lawn recover from the summer and stay thick and healthy during the cooler part of the year, as well as help to keep away various pests that can harm your turf,’ David Truby of Greensleeves continues.

Focus on fungi prevention

‘Fall is the time of year we associate with seeing colorful toadstools and other mushrooms,’ David Truby of Greensleeves points out. ‘However, there are also pervasive fungi, such as fusarium and red thread, that can infect lawns and cause massive damage,’ he warns.

‘The first step to treating lawn damage is establishing its cause. Symptoms such as brown spots, patches, or sliminess are tell-tale signs of certain fungus types, yet lawn damage can also be caused by molds, moss, insects, and wildlife.

‘While scarification, aeration, and overseeding can help reduce a fungus invasion, the best course of action would be to call the professionals to deal with the problem using an expert fungicide formula.’

Lay out insecticides

‘Various insect larvae are active in the fall, and if they feed on your grassroots, they can cause immense damage,’ David warns. ‘While moss, thatch, and other lawn diseases can seriously harm your lawn, the most catastrophic damage is often caused by the larvae and grubs of common insects.

‘Insect infestations are more common than you might think and can be challenging to treat if you do not know how.’

Look for an environmentally friendly, biological insecticide treatment that targets and eradicates some of the most common damaging insect infestations, such as leatherjackets and chafer grubs. Check when the best time is to dethatch your lawn, too.

Make a move on moss

While some people like the idea of a moss garden, others may see moss as an invader of their perfectly manicured lawn. ‘Moss often becomes a major issue over the fall and winter and can completely take over a lawn in a short space of time if left untreated,’ explains David Truby of Greensleeves.

‘Being a highly adaptable and resilient plant that flourishes in areas of shade, moisture, and low turf quality, moss not only makes your lawn look uneven and gives it a spongy feeling underfoot, but it steals nutrients from your lawn too.

‘However, if you find moss on your lawn, do not panic! You can treat it with scarification – a mechanical treatment that removes thatch and moss, preventing various lawn diseases and helping to maximize the amount of water and nutrients that can reach the grassroots.’

There are some homemade treatments for garden moss too, such as using dish soap to kill moss, which may be easier for small moss patches.

Tend to brown patches

Brown patches in green grass can look unsightly but can be prevented easily if the lawn is given time to breathe and recover over fall.

‘Ideally, anything that needs to be sitting on your lawn should be moved each day. If this isn’t possible, take some time to use fertilizer to help it recover,’ suggests gardening expert, Laura Schwarze, from outdoor rattan furniture specialists, Luxury Rattan. ‘To prevent brown patches on your lawn, place your outdoor furniture on a patio, decking, or artificial grass to help keep your lawn free. If this isn’t an option, make sure to rotate your garden furniture regularly to help prevent damage to your lawn.’

Aerate your lawn

Many people ask why aerate a lawn each year as the task can be time-consuming. Aeration has a range of benefits, however, especially if you know when to aerate a lawn for the best effect and how to aerate a lawn correctly.

‘Aerating a lawn enhances the color and lushness of grass as the roots can take in nutrients from fertilizers more easily,’ explains lawn expert Chris McIlroy of The Grass People. ‘There is less chance of moss, weeds, and lawn diseases forming and offers the grass quicker recovery from heavy use in warm, cold, or wet weather such as what we see over fall. What’s more, aeration helps with improving drainage and less chance of puddling.’

Aeration is ideal when printing of trying to fix a waterlogged lawn over fall and winter too.

‘For a small to medium-sized lawn, piking, slitting or coring methods are best for a small to medium-sized lawn,’ Chris says. ‘When using a garden fork, firmly spike the surface down to at least 30mm then move the fork back and forward a little then pull out. Doing so cracks the soil a little to create a hole in the soil to allow airflow. This can be done during the spring and fall season as it has a good effect on the lawn. A slitter can also be used as it can impact a greater area and are often quicker to use but may not be consistent in depth across the lawn. Both methods should be avoided in very dry or very wet conditions.’

‘Corers are best used for large areas,’ Chris continues, ‘as well as for heavily compacted soil, this will remove plugs of soil, usually two or three inches. These machines tend to take a core of soil out of the ground which is usually only when the soil needs better aeration and drainage. The holes can be filled (top-dressed) with sand to help water pass through the soil. This method is typically used by groundsmen who need to improve their soil profile, so if you’re not confident you can carry the work out you may wish to hire a professional.’

Mow and rake your lawn

‘In winter, the wet and lack of sunlight affect the lawn,’ says Leigh Barnes, a garden specialist at Jacksons Fencing. ‘As the leaves fall, rake them away regularly. You should complete a final mow, around the beginning of November, whenever it is dry.’

Rather than compost fall leaves, consider using them as a natural mulch for your flower beds. ‘A blanket of fall leaves on any flower beds will provide a layer of protection against the inevitable harsh frosts and freezing snow associated with winter,’ Leigh adds.

What should I put on my lawn in the fall?

If you want to protect your lawn over fall and winter and prepare it for a boost of growth in the spring, put a nitrogen-rich fertilizer over your lawn in the fall period. This will provide your grass with plenty of nutrients to survive the winter and grow stronger and thicker in spring.

Is October too late to overseed?

While October is not too late to overseed your lawn, it should be carried out earlier if possible. Overseeding a lawn in late-October leaves the seeds at risk of winter frosts in November through to January. September is the best time to overseed your lawn, early October at most if you want to give the seeds the best chance.

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