I’m a lawn pro and it’s so important to look after your grass in autumn – follow my 7 tips for a lush lawn in spring
SPRING may still be a while away – however, according to experts, now is the perfect time to get your lawn ready for the warmer season ahead.
Whether it’s raking the garden or spreading grass feed, there are several simple and effective ways to prep the lawn for the harsh winter.
Ensuring your lawn has vital nutrients will help strengthen the roots and resist any disease – the two key components for a running start for the spring.
To ensure you have the best lawn next year, one whizz, Jeremy Yamaguchi, CEO of Lawn Love, has come to rescue with five easy tips gardeners must follow this autumn.
Clear Out Weeds and Dead Plants
While weeds are most visible in summer, they grow all year round – and it’s essential to tackle them, Jeremy explained.
By weeding out dead or dying plants, you will make room for brush and ground coverage plants, as well as keep the soil full of key nutrients.
Water Well
Since autumn ”is a recovery and preparation time for your lawn, it needs plenty of water”, the guru said.
According to the whizz, avid gardeners should be aiming for about an inch of water per week, with more or less depending on rainfall.
Once freezing temperatures hit, he urged to stop watering completely to prevent freeze damage.
Rake Regularly
Whether it’s leaves, pine needles, or fallen sticks, Jeremy explained that keeping the grass clear of natural debris will promote lawn growth whilst also reducing slipping and fire hazards.
Not only will your garden look neat, but the lack of any fallen leaves and debris will also keep any unwanted pests away.
Aerate
Another important task to add to your list is aerating – which means creating small holes in the soil to promote better circulation of essential nutrients, light, water, and air.
Gardeners can do so manually with a pitchfork and even shoe spikes, or a liquid solution consisting of enzymes.
Mow the Grass Low
As we’re approaching winter, don’t be afraid to give the grass a shorter cut, Jeremy said.
This is because the shorter blades will prevent the grass from becoming matted and growing mould.
Once the grass completely stops growing, stop mowing until sprint arrives.
October gardening jobs
The Sun’s Gardening Editor, Veronica Lorraine, has shared the jobs you need to tackle in October.
“It’s a good time to trim deciduous hedges – like box, yew, hawthorn, hornbean and beech – plus hedge trimmers are a great upper body workout!
Make leafmould – gather up all the fallen leaves and fill either bin bags or plastic carrier bags. Seal the top, stick a few small holes in the bag – and then store for a year or more. Free compost!
It’s unlikely you’ll get any more red tomatoes so have one final harvest and chuck the plants on the compost. See if you can get the green ones to ripen by putting in a drawer (some say with a banana). Also keep the seeds from a couple – and plant again next year if they went well.
Finish getting in your spring bulbs. Ideally you’d have done daffs and alliums, but tulips are better in the ground when the soil temperature gets a bit colder.
It’s good to leave some plant litter in the ground – it adds to the nutrients as it rots down, and provides shelter and food for insects. But remove the manky brown bits collapsing all over the lawn/winter structure.
Mulch – it not only suppresses weeds, but keeps the soil warm, improves water retention and adds a little winter duvet to your outside space.
October’s a good month for carrots, peas, asparagus, broad beans, and rhubarb.”
Dethatch
Have you ever wondered why your lawn looks like a mat of dead grass, roots, and lifeless plants?
Chatting with Real Simple, the lawn pro explained that this combo of organic matter is called thatch, which can build up if your lawn is regularly mowed – but not raked or aerated enough.
To ensure your lawn is not covered in broken grass, Jeremy advised to rake the area manually – although power rakes can help just as well.
Plant Seeds, If Needed
Last but not least, the pro said that some lawn seeds need to be seeded in autumn for the ultimate grass for spring.
However, if you’ve missed the chance, there will still be time to try again when the warmer weather arrives.