Five Key Garden Lawn Jobs for Autumn

Many garden lawns may look the worse for wear during autumn, particularly if it’s been very hot over the summer months, or if it’s had a lot of use from children (and pets) playing on it.

Autumn is the best time to give your grass some love and affection before the onset of winter. Here, Madingley Mulch, who supply a range of turf, seed and associated products, identify some key jobs to carry out before autumn is over.

This article is a three-minute read.

However you define autumn, whether you go by the meteorological standard, which says it began on September 1, or the equinox, which says the season started on September 23 – there is no doubt that summer is officially over. For gardeners, it’s a critical time of the year when you should be tackling various essential tasks, particularly if you have a lawn of your own.

 

Madingley Mulch – A Leading Turf Supplier in Cambridge  

At Madingley Mulch, we can meet your needs when it comes to your lawn, wherever you live in East Anglia – whether you need lawn top dressing in Bedfordshire, lawn sand in Suffolk or garden lawn edging in Essex.

 

Why Autumn’s the Ideal Time to Work on Your Lawn

Autumn is the ideal time to take care of your lawn as the soil should still be relatively warm while the air temperature is a bit cooler. This promotes vigorous root growth and reduces stress on the grass. The season also brings natural moisture from increased rainfall and offers the last chance to address weeds and soil compaction before winter, setting the lawn up for a healthy recovery and strong performance in the spring.

 

1. Keep it Neat and Tidy

Even if it doesn’t need a final mow (see below) – or perhaps you are letting the grass grow long to encourage wildlife – it’s still worth giving it a final check. Remove any unwanted weeds and trim the edges with shears if you don’t want the grass invading any flower beds or growing over paths.

 

2. The Final Mow of the Year

When this should be is a subject of much debate because a lot will depend on your local weather. Generally speaking, this needs to be towards the end of autumn (i.e. October rather than September).

If the temperature has dropped to around 5°C (41F) consistently, then it’s time to get the mower out for the last time – certainly you should do it before any frost is forecast. Put the mower on a fairly high setting, if you can because this will enable stronger root growth next year.

 

3. Scarify and Aerate

Another way of ensuring your garden thrives is to scarify and aerate it. This should follow on from the last cut of the year. Scarifying removes surface thatch – a layer of dead grass, stems, roots and moss. This can be done with a rake (ideally a spring-tined one) or a mechanical scarifier.

Aerating involves punching small holes in the soil to prevent compaction and ensure that water and nutrients can get to the grass roots. This can be done with a garden fork (pictured), or, for larger lawns, a specialist machine.

 

4. Reseed…

If there are any bare patches on your lawn after you have cut, scarified and aerated it, then consider reseeding them. A light topdressing of topsoil or lawn dressing can help create a consistent moisture barrier and level the lawn.

If you do this, you’ll need to keep the seedlings moist for the first five or six weeks with regular watering (assuming it’s dry). It may be worth applying some autumn lawn feed, and it’s definitely worth keeping your fledgling grass clear of any debris, such as falling leaves.

 

5…or Relay

If your lawn has really suffered during the summer, then you could completely relay it. For more helpful advice on how to lay a lawn in autumn, read our previous blog post here.

Again the time of year – neither too hot nor too cold (or too wet) makes it the ideal time to carry out some running repairs (although the same applies to spring).

 

Madingley Mulch – a Turf Supplier in Cambridge

At Madingley Mulch, we supply high-quality turf, grown in East Anglia, for your garden or business premises. We stock it in 1m3 rolls. For more information follow this link or call us on 01954 212144.

We also have lawn top dressing, which we can deliver to customers in Bedfordshire, Suffolk and across East Anglia.

In addition, we stock a range of garden tools to help you on your way. You can also find Evergreen 4 in 1 (which will kill weeds while promoting healthy grass growth) and various types of grass seed in the associated products section of our online shop.

 

FAQS:

Can Madingley Mulch deliver to your door?

Yes, we can deliver your turf (or other products) directly to you – we operate a sliding scale of charges depending on how far you live away from our base on the edge of Cambridge. The minimum order needs to be £50; for turf to be delivered there has to be a minimum order of 20m2.

For more details, check out our deliveries page here.

What’s the best time of day to water your lawn?

You should water your lawn either early in the morning or late in the evening because this reduces evaporation caused by direct sunlight and heat, ensuring more water reaches the roots. A good soaking will also bring more benefit to the grass’s (or plants’) roots compared to a light sprinkling.

Should I apply lawn feed before or after aerating and scarifying?

It is best to do scarifying and aeration first, then apply the autumn lawn feed afterwards (and preferably before rainfall). That way, the soil is more receptive, and nutrients can reach the roots more effectively.

 

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