Did you know the best spring lawns start in autumn?
Autumn is one of the most important times of year to look after your lawn. After a summer of heavy use, dry spells, or wear and tear, your grass will benefit from some seasonal care. By preparing your lawn now, you’ll help it stay healthy through winter and set the stage for strong growth next spring.
Why is autumn the best time for lawn care?
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Warm soil, cooler air: These conditions are perfect for germination and root growth.
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More rainfall: Helps new seeds establish without constant watering.
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Less weed competition: Weeds and moss naturally slow down in autumn, giving grass seed a better chance.
Essential Autumn Lawn Jobs
1. Sweep up Autumn Leaves
Start by sweeping up fallen autumn leaves using a good leaf rake. This is really important, as a layer of damp leaves blocks light and air, which can weaken the grass and encourage moss. The leaves will also rot down on top of the grass, causing damage and releasing pathogens, which could cause disease. Don’t let your leaves go to waste, though. Why not make your own leaf mould?
2. Scarify and Rake Away Thatch
Next, scarify the lawn with a rake. Rake out moss, dead grass, and debris so your lawn can breathe. This improves air circulation and ensures water and nutrients can reach the soil. Scarifying also helps to loosen the surface of the soil, which makes it easier for new seed to establish. Start lightly with a scarifying rake for smaller lawns, or use a lawn scarifier for larger areas. It may look a little bare at first, but don’t worry, this is normal, and it allows healthier grass to grow back stronger.
3. Aerate
After a summer of heavy use, lawns often become compacted. Spiking a lawn every 15cm or so with a garden fork or aerator helps relieve this compaction. Aerators help by removing small plugs of soil, improving drainage, and allowing nutrients, oxygen, and water to reach the roots more effectively.
Aerating only needs to be carried out every few years, unless an area of lawn is heavily compacted. Where lawns sit on heavy clay soils, which are prone to waterlogging, a hollow-tine aerator will extract plugs of soil to improve aeration. Fill in the holes, brushing in Lawn & Turf Dressing, which will promote improved root structure, ensuring your grass grows deeper and more resilient. Lawn & Turf Dressing also enhances lawn drainage, preventing waterlogging and promoting healthier, vibrant green growth.
4. Deal with Moss
If moss has started to take over your lawn, autumn is the ideal time to tackle it. Moss thrives in damp, shady conditions, and if it isn’t dealt with now, it can quickly spread through the colder months and overwhelm grass by spring. Treating moss in autumn not only prevents it from dominating but also gives your lawn a healthier start next year. Westland’s All In One Autumn Lawn Feed & Moss Killer is specially formulated to target moss while strengthening the grass at the same time. It removes unwanted moss and provides essential nutrients, helping your lawn build resilience for winter and encouraging greener, thicker growth the following season.
5. Overseed
To achieve a thick, lush lawn next spring, early autumn is the ideal time to overseed. Cooler soil temperatures encourage strong root development without the stress of summer heat. Westland Gro-Sure Smart Lawn Seed Fast Start is specially formulated for these conditions and can germinate in temperatures as low as 7°C, making it perfect for autumn sowing. We use Aqua Gel technology on our seeds which absorbs and retains water, releasing it gradually as the seed needs it. This improves germination, helps new grass establish quickly, and reduces the risk of seeds drying out, giving your lawn a stronger, healthier foundation for the coming year.
Other Autumn Lawn Care Jobs
Create a New Lawn
Another early autumn lawn care job is to sow a new lawn from seed. The soil is still warm from the summer, and the autumn rain will provide vital moisture as the new lawn develops. It is vital to prepare the soil thoroughly and to keep the developing lawn properly watered. See our guide on how to sow a new lawn for step by step instructions or watch our video below.
Adjust the Setting on Your Mower
As the weather starts to change, the grass will be growing much more slowly. Adjust the cutting height on your lawnmower so that it cuts the grass higher.
Mow about once a fortnight until about mid-October, depending on weather conditions. Re-cut the lawn edges with a half-moon edging iron to create a neat finish. Trim the lawn edges every week using lawn-edging shears to give a neat finish.
Weeding
Where temperatures remain mild and broad-leaved weeds such as clover, daisy, and dandelions are still growing, spot-treat them with a selective, glyphosate-free lawn weedkiller. Never use a general-purpose weedkiller on lawns, as it will damage all the surrounding grass.
