Planning For Autumn - Turf Tips

Autumn is the perfect time to repair and prepare your lawn for winter, laying healthy foundations for a stronger, greener lawn come spring.

By carrying out a few simple lawn maintenance tasks now, you’ll encourage stronger roots, healthier grass and a lawn that’s ready to flourish. This article is the ultimate guide to planning your autumn lawn.

Content Overview

• Assess your lawn’s problems
• Top 7 tips to prepare your lawn this autumn
• Autumn lawn care checklist
• If you have wild flower or clover turf
• View our range of turf
• Speak to the experts
• FAQs

Start By Assessing The Problems You’ve Experienced This Year

Before reaching for the lawn feed, take a few minutes to assess the condition of your lawn and how it’s performed over the past year.

Ask yourself:

• Is there more moss than before?
• Are there bare or thinning patches?
• Does water sit on the surface when it rains?
• Has your grass struggled with hot temperatures?
• Has your turf survived drought or hose pipe bans?
• Is your lawn heavily compacted?
• Are weeds out of control?

Identifying these problems will help you provide the right solution and give your lawn the best chance to survive autumn and winter.

Read More: Making Your Lawn Work for You in the Autumn

Top 7 Tips to Prepare Your Lawn This Autumn

1. Remove moss build-up

During summer, shady and warm areas of your garden can accumulate more moss. Why? Because shaded spots near fences, under trees and in undergrowth offer ideal conditions for moss.

The problem with moss is that it blocks essential sunlight from reaching your turf – which it needs even more during autumn and winter.

To effectively remove moss, clear what’s currently there, increase sun exposure by cutting back overhanging branches and hedges and improve drainage in these areas.

Read More: Guide to Lawn Fungus and Disease

2. Clear surface thatch

Thatch is a layer of ordinary garden debris that builds up on the turf’s surface, often hiding in the thick blades of grass.

Thatch can include grass cuttings, twigs, and leaves. If left, it can create a blanket on the surface of the turf that prevents sunlight from coming through and traps moisture, leading to lawn diseases.

Clearing thatch is a quick fix – use a garden rake to remove surface thatch and add it to your compost or garden recycling bin.

3. Clear fallen leaves

As beautiful as autumn leaves look, they can become a problem for turf if left on your lawn for too long.

A thick layer of fallen leaves blocks sunlight, traps moisture and creates ideal conditions for moss, mould and lawn diseases.

Remove leaves with a garden rake or leaf blower to keep your lawn clear. This will help oxygen and sunlight reach grass roots to improve its health, strength and resilience.

Read More: Autumn Leaves, Autumn Lawns

4. Aerate your lawn

Compacted soil is one of the most common reasons why lawns struggle in autumn and winter.

Years of foot traffic, high summer use, and garden furniture can squeeze air pockets from the soil, compacting it and stopping oxygen, water, and nutrients from reaching grass roots.

Use a garden fork or aerator to spike holes into compacted soil. This will recreate those air pockets, allowing essential nutrients to reach and feed your grass throughout autumn.

5. Improve lawn drainage

If you’ve noticed puddles regularly appearing on your lawn after rain, or water draining away slowly, the likely cause is poor drainage.

If left untreated, it can lead to waterlogged soil that weakens grass roots, encourages moss, and stunts grass growth in the spring.

Easy ways to improve lawn drainage are by breaking up compacted soil with aeration, adding high-quality topsoil to aid drainage, or switching to shade-tolerant turf.

Read More: How to Prevent My Lawn from Being Waterlogged

6. Overseed bare patches

High use in the summer can cause wear and tear on your lawn, leading to patches that look thin and tired. When autumn rolls around, it’s the perfect time to apply grass seed.

With air and soil temperatures suitable for grass growth, it’s the ideal time to overseed your lawn and refill bare patches. Autumn also brings regular rainfall and less demand on your lawn, both of which support healthy regrowth.

7. Feed your lawn

A nutritional boost can do your lawn the world of good as it prepares for winter hibernation.

An autumn/winter-specific lawn fertiliser like our Nourish Lawn Feed is high in phosphates and potash that gives your lawn everything it needs to survive winter conditions by:

• Strengthening grass roots
• Improving disease resistance
• Increasing winter hardiness
• Brighter greens
• Better growth in spring

Autumn Lawn Care Checklist

If you’re unsure where to begin with your autumn lawn care, start with our helpful Autumn Lawn Care Checklist:

• Inspect your lawn to assess key issues
• For any last mows, raise your mower height
• Remove fallen leaves, moss and debris
• Aerate compacted soil where needed
• Apply an autumn-specific lawn fertiliser
• Overseed bare patches
• Continue watering if autumn is warm and dry

Read More: Can You Lay Turf in Autumn?

If You Have A Wild Flower Or Clover Lawn

The advantage of wild flower and clover turf is that they’re both low maintenance; they only require a couple of cuts a year.

Autumn is a great time to mow your wild flower or clover turf; after heavy summer use, a fresh mow can revive your grass and prepare it for the next season.

Read More: How to Care for Your Wild Flower Turf

View Our Range of Turf

• Trident Turf
• Wild Flower Turf
• Clover Turf
• Show Lawn Turf
• RTF Turf
• Species-Rich Turf
• Greens Turf
• Shade Tolerant Turf
• Revetting Turf
• View All

Speak to the Experts

Every lawn is different, and the best autumn lawn care plan depends on your soil, garden conditions and how you want to use your space.

At George Davies Turf & Stone, we’ve been helping homeowners and landscapers create the perfect lawn for every season. Whether you need premium turf or expert advice, get in touch with our friendly customer service team.

FAQs

Should you fertilise your lawn before winter?

Yes, it is recommended to fertilise your lawn in autumn, ready for winter. By applying an autumn/winter lawn fertiliser, you can feed your grass everything it needs to survive winter.

When should I start preparing my lawn for autumn?

Typically, September is the perfect time to begin your autumn lawn care. Many maintenance tasks may continue into October and November depending on weather conditions.

Can you overseed your lawn in autumn?

Absolutely! Autumn brings warm soil, cool temperatures and increased rainfall, making it the ideal time to repair and regrow your grass.

Why does moss keep reappearing on my lawn?

Moss will keep reappearing on your lawn if your lawn is waterlogged, in shade, or in poor growing conditions – grass struggles to grow, so moss appears in its place.

Should I mow my lawn in autumn?

Yes. Continue mowing your lawn while grass is actively growing. As the temperature cools, raise the mower height. Our guide, What Height Should I Mow My Lawn, can help.