Autumn is an interesting time for our lawns. Though we are perhaps spending less time outdoors, with the colder weather and more frequent wet spells, the garden is still in active growth and will be for several weeks to come.
When it comes to lawn care, Autumn is a crucial time with it being the perfect season to perform essential tasks to improve the health and resilience of your grass before winter sets in.
There will also have been damage caused over the summer which needs repairing. If you wait until it gets too cold your grass will go into a period of dormancy and performing these tasks will cause more harm than good.
8 essentials for autumn lawn care
I approached a number of gardening experts for their essential autumn lawn care tasks and they were only too willing to share their tips, understanding that a gardener's lawn is often their pride and joy, and maintaining their health can be a battle, particularly for newer gardeners.
Angela Slater, gardening expert at Hayes Garden World begins by explaining how to know when to perform these tasks:
"Autumn lawn care very much depends upon the weather: if it is excessively wet the best thing to do is leave the lawn alone and try not to walk across it unnecessarily. Normally autumn is a good time to do any remedial work on the lawn, when the mild damp weather allows the lawn to recuperate before winter."
Angela Slater
Angela holds a degree in Conservation and Land Management, and has had an active interest in gardening since the age of six. or the past four years, she has been blogging and making video content related to gardening,
1. Rake up any fallen leaves
One of the best things about autumn is watching the leaves change and fall. But this can be problematic for our lawn ideas. Raking them up seems like an obvious task, but there is more to this autumn lawn care job than the aesthetics.
"In autumn it’s important to rake and remove fallen leaves. If left on your lawn, they will rot and can damage your lawn by spreading pathogens. A covering of leaves will also prevent sunlight and air from reaching the grass blades, causing further damage," says Fiona Jenkins, garden expert at MyJobQuote.
"Where less than half of the lawn is covered in fallen leaves you can run your mower over them and shred them, but if more than half is covered then it’s best to rake them up," she adds.
A classic garden rake suitable for removing leaves but also for lightly scarifying the surface to remove moss and thatch.
You might like autumn leaves on your lawn for their pop of colour, but they can cause issues(Image credit: Zbynek Pospisil / Getty Images)
Fiona Jenkins
A landscaper and gardening expert with over 25 years of experience in the industry. Currently she works for MyJobQuote as their resident expert on all things gardening including lawn care and maintenance.
2. Scarify to remove leftover summer debris
"Scarifying the lawn in autumn is essential as it removes all the dead grass and moss which will just decay over the winter, resulting in bald patches in spring. Remove all the dead material you pull out of the lawn," says Angela Slater.
Scarifying tools include leaf rakes, dethatching rakes, spring tine rakes and mechanical or push along lawn scarifiers for larger areas.
"To check if your lawn needs scarifying, part the grass at the base. If you can see bare soil, there is no thatch but if the soil is hidden beneath a dense mat, your lawn will benefit from being scarified. By removing the thatch, water, air and sunlight will reach the base of the grass, encourage growth and keep the grass free of fungal disease," explains Fiona Jenkins.
"It’s usually not necessary to scarify a lawn every year, most lawns will only need to be done every couple of years. Autumn is the second growth period of the year for grass so it has the opportunity to revive itself after scarification," Fiona adds.
Shop manual scarifier tools
Walensee Thatch Rake
This adjustable steel rake is ideal for pulling up patches of moss and thatch.
Burgon & Ball Lawn Hand Rake
The long handled rake will be ideal for sweeping up debris from the surface of your lawn.
Darlac DP888 Lawn Scarifier
The wheels on either side make an easier task of dragging the tines over your lawn.
Don't wait to scarify as winter is not the best time for this, as growth will have stopped altogether your grass won't be able to recover from the process.(Image credit: schulzie./ Getty Images)
3. Aerate the surface to improve drainage
Guy Jenkins, Consumer Manager for Johnsons Lawn Seed, explains that a wet spring and a summer spent outdoors on your lawn can result in compacted soil. "This hinders water and oxygen from reaching your grassroots. This can lead to poor growth and a lacklustre lawn, but this can easily be solved by autumn aeration," he says.
"Aerating a lawn involves creating small holes in the soil to allow air, water, and nutrients to penetrate the roots. By encouraging deeper root penetration, helps your lawn become more resilient and vibrant. While you can aerate with a garden fork, a hollow-tine aerator is more effective, especially for severely compacted, clay or waterlogged soil.
"After aerating, apply a top dressing to fill the holes and improve the soil structure. A good top-dressing mix includes three parts sandy loam, six parts sharp sand, and one part compost or leaf mould," says Guy.
"As long as your grass is still growing, it’s ok to mow it using the best lawn mower. However, the grass will not need cutting as regularly as the growth slows down in autumn. You also need to raise the height of the mower blades so that the longer blades can cope with the autumn conditions of reduced daylight and lower temperatures," says Fiona Jenkins.
Remember, the best time to mow a lawn is when it's relatively dry and with sharpened lawn mower blades. "Avoid mowing wet or frost-covered grass as this can damage it by tearing rather than producing a clean cut. This can cause the tip of the grass blade to turn brown."
"Avoid mowing altogether when the ground is wet. This is because the weight of the mower can compact the soil. Wet grass can transfer some diseases such as rust fungus from one area to another and will also clump and cause potential damage to your mower by making the blades rusty," adds Fiona.
Wet blades of grass will tear when you mow them, which is bad for their health(Image credit: Zbynek Pospisil / Alamy Stock Photo)
5. Remove grass clippings after mowing
It’s best to collect grass clippings when you mow the lawn in autumn. Unlike during summer, when grass clippings can be used as mulch to help your lawn to retain moisture, the damp conditions of Autumn will cause them to rot, leading to fungus and disease.
"This will also reduce the airflow and sunlight getting to the base of the blades, adding to the problems," says Fiona Jenkins. If there are any unexpected hot and dry spells however, it is ok to leave a fine layer of clippings on your lawn surface.
Gently rake over your lawn to remove clippings after mowing(Image credit: Nadanka / Getty Images)
6. Level the surface
Levelling a garden lawn might not be necessary for all gardeners. But if, for example you've had moles, or particularly high traffic areas, you might have noticed bumps and dips forming.
Guy Jenkins highlights this issue as it can cause water to pool, leading to flooded areas and potentially damaging grass. Addressing it in autumn ensures it is ready to handle winter weather.
"Use a spade to carefully lift the turf in these areas, revealing the soil beneath. Adjust the soil level by adding or removing as needed, ensuring a smooth surface. Roll your turf back into place, pressing down the edges firmly to secure it."
"Water the area thoroughly to aid in root growth and re-establishment. This will help you prevent any winter flooding and also enjoy a smoother, healthier lawn come springtime," says Guy Jenkins.
Sorting out an uneven surface stops flooding in your lawn over winter(Image credit: Dorling Kindersley ltd / Alamy Stock Photo)
7. Overseed bare patches
Autumn is a good time to overseed a lawn if there are any bare patches. Do this while the weather is still mild and damp; it will have the chance to germinate and grow some roots before winter. The best time to sow grass seed is after you have scarified and aerated to improve the drainage.
"If there are large patches of bare soil, for example where there is a well-trodden route across the lawn it may be necessary to lay turf. If an area of lawn is always going to be used as a shortcut maybe it’s time for a redesign and put in a path," advises Angela Slater.
Use fresh grass seed to sow patches in autumn(Image credit: schulzie / Getty Images)
8. Enrich your lawn with fertiliser
"Not every lawn will need to be fed in autumn, it does depend on its condition," explains Fiona Jenkins. "If there has been a summer drought or there are a lot of bare patches, your lawn will benefit from a good quality lawn feed. It’s important to use a specific autumn lawn feed and not be tempted to use up any leftover spring or summer weed and feed."
"This is because the lawn feed specifically for autumn is high in potassium and phosphates which encourage root growth rather than the nitrogen-rich feeds for spring and summer which stimulate leaf growth."
"Fertilise a lawn before forecasted rain so that it gets washed into the soil and doesn’t sit on the surface and cause burn to the grass. If it doesn’t rain within a day or two, water the feed in. Always apply the lawn feed at the rate suggested on the box, this is usually a handful per square metre," says Fiona.
Use a lawn feed which is specially formulated for autumn(Image credit: Henfaes / Getty Images)
Peter Chaloner
Peter Chaloner is the Managing Director of Cobra, one of the UK's leading brands of garden machinery. He is a passionate enthusiast when it comes to lawn care and seasonal gardening tasks. He takes great pride in maintaining his own lawn and garden to perfection and is knowledgeable about various techniques and tools that can be used to achieve the best results.
FAQs
What is the best autumn lawn feed?
The best autumn lawn feed is one that's lower in nitrogen but higher in phosphate and potash. These nutrients encourage root development, which helps the lawn survive the winter," says Peter Chaloner managing director of Cobra.
"Yes, autumn is a great time for scarifying your lawn. It helps remove thatch and dead organic matter, preventing moss from taking over. Scarifying promotes better water drainage and allows grass to develop deeper roots, which will help it survive winter," says Peter Chaloner managing director of Cobra.
Should you cut grass in October?
"Yes, you should still be cutting your grass in October, but raise the mower blades to leave the grass a bit longer—around 40mm. Cutting the grass too short can make it more susceptible to moss and winter damage," says Peter Chaloner managing director of Cobra.
Remember it's not advisable to mow the lawn when it's wet or frosty as this can cause damage to the grass.
Can you put autumn lawn feed on wet grass?
"It’s generally safe to apply autumn lawn feed on slightly damp grass, as this helps the fertiliser soak into the soil. However, avoid applying it during heavy rain, which could wash the fertiliser away before it’s absorbed," says Peter Chaloner managing director of Cobra.
Does grass still grow in autumn?
"Yes, grass continues to grow in autumn, though at a slower pace as temperatures drop. That’s why it’s important to keep mowing, feeding, and caring for it during this season to promote healthy growth into the colder months," says Peter Chaloner managing director of Cobra.
To give your grassy area a neat finish why not have a look at our guid on how to edge a lawn.
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Teresa was part of a team that launched Easy Gardens in 2018 and worked as the Editor on this magazine. She has extensive experience writing and editing content on gardens and landscaping on brands such as Homes & Gardens, Country Homes & Interiors and Living Etc magazine. She has developed close working relationships with top landscape architects and leading industry experts, and has been exposed to an array of rich content and expertise.
In 2020 Teresa bought her first home. She and her partner worked alongside architects and builders to transform the downstairs area of her two bedroom Victorian house in north London into a usable space for her family. Along the way she learned the stresses, woes and joys of home renovation, and is now looking to her next project, landscaping the back garden.
