LAWNCARE CALENDAR
Ensure your lawn looks perfect all year round by checking out our top tips.
Month by month steps to achieving a luscious lawn! (UK climate only)
When's your preferred time for renovating your lawn?
Spring 🌱
Autumn 🍂
January Lawncare Tips
"For most people, the start of a new year brings a new optimism with a list of new years resolutions, and now's the perfect time to plan the year ahead for your yearly maintenance plan for your lawn".
January is typically the off-peak season for lawns in the UK due to cold temperatures, shorter daylight hours, and frost. As grass growth is limited during this time, it presents an ideal opportunity to prioritize the health and vitality of your lawn.
Although your lawn isn't actively growing, its having to cope with a magnitude of adverse weather conditions from frost, waterlogging, and as we've seen in recent years high winds, which bring along debris and organic build up which lead to the development in thatch build up and light restriction. With late mornings and early nights, your lawn needs all the sunlight it can get to thrive so ensure that when possible and weather permits, ensure your lawn or lawns are free from leaves and debris.
If there is no sign of frost and the weather is mild, now's a great time to aerate your lawn.
Above: The aftermath of a trafficked frozen lawn in a public space
Tip: If there is any frost about, the best thing you can do is avoid walking on the grass entirely, as you can bruise grass swards by literally snapping the frozen swards, leaving unsightly black footprints in your lawn which can kill the grass.
If it has forecasted snow, prolonged freezing conditions or rain, turf hardeners or iron based fertilisers can be used to toughen the grass and keep any fungal diseases such as Snow Mould or red thread at bay.
Again If you've had a busy November/December and you haven't managed to collect all of your leaves during the fall due to the festive season, now's a great time to get this sorted if conditions allow.
As you know, leaves are one of the best forms of compost we can make use of in the garden but leaving fallen leaves for long periods of time on your lawn isn't good for the lawns health and restricts direct sunlight and with limited hours of sunlight during January your lawn requires as much light as possible this time of year.
Tip: Whilst the ground is soft, aerating your lawn will help massively with drainage and with loosening compact ground. This will contribute to the health of your grass over winter by adding valuable airflow to the root system and nutrients applied.
Now is an excellent time of year to get your mowers serviced. Clean, well maintained mowers will benefit your lawn, keeping potential transferrable diseases at bay, if you mow multiple lawns, sharp blades will give a cleans, crisp cut the same with pruning, clean, sharp tools will benefit plants, and well oiled machines will run and last you a lifetime should you take care of them. If you have a petrol mower, ensure the fuel is drained over the winter period as stale fuel pumped through an engine can cause mechanical problems.
February Lawncare Tips
With the last couple of years to go by, one year we have had prolonged freezing temperatures throughout November to March, the following year extremely mild but wet winters. Either way, personally I wouldn't recommend cutting your lawn. Your lawn and ground ideally needs to be very dry and relatively firm under the foot for the first cut.
Instead lets focus on utilising the time we have on getting that winter feed down, eradicating any moss, aerating and preparing for spring if weather permits.
With snowdrops, Crocus and daffodils beginning to appear, we can almost taste spring upon us and that glimmer of hope of warmer weather is on the horizon!
If you lawn is looking a bit sparce in places, now's a good time to order your grass seed in ready for overseeding.
Pro Tip: Seed will not germinate unless temperatures reach above 9/10 degrees Celsius and requires a good couple of weeks without frosts for it to germinate.
An observation of the weather is paramount here so keep an eye out for drops in temperatures and frosts as February can be very deceiving.
With the splashes of colour appearing on the cherry blossoms, bulbs beginning to show their faces, it can be tempting for most to cut the lawn, but from my experience, your best waiting until March for optimal health of your lawn and damage limitation.
With the extreme rainfall we've been experiencing these last two years in the UK, this will defiantly raise any problematic areas in your lawn so keep an eye out for waterlogging.
To improve drainage, spike problem areas with a garden fork, then brush a mix of sharp sand and loam into the holes.
Worm casts are a sign of healthy soil but if you don’t like them on your lawn, brush them off with a hard broom once they dry out or use your power brush or blower.
Again your lawn may benefit an additional feed/turf hardener depending on the time between feeds, always check the instructions or your suppliers guide lines for application frequency.
Every 4-6 weeks is usually the optimal rate of application and be careful not to overfeed as too much of anything can be damaging for your lawn.
Keep an eye out for yellow or brown patches at this time of year which can be caused by the fungal disease fusarium patch, especially in wet weather and in overfed lush lawns that have been left a bit too long. You can rake, aerate and fertilise as long as the weather allows.
March Lawncare Tips
Firstly, clear any debris that may have occurred after adverse weather.
As I have experienced across many gardens and open spaces after the heavy rainfall wee had this winter an last year, this will have caused our lawns to suffer from lack of light and waterlogging, which will have encouraged lots of moss growth.
If moss is showing through the grass, one of the best solutions for tackling moss is with the use of Iron based fertilisers. These feeds can either be soluble or granular types which is best applied by a spreader or knapsack sprayer. Please take extreme caution when applying as the high iron content can cause staining to pathways so ensure any areas are swept quickly and washed down after use.
This will ‘blacken’ the moss initially and then kill it whilst typically greening up the grass.
Once blackened simply remove the dead moss with a spring rake or Scarifier once it has gone brown and dispose of waste. Make sure there is no frost around before you do this. Ideally wait a few more weeks.
Now is a good time to observe any areas which may look a little thin and overseed where needed if necessary and apply a slow release fertiliser. With regular mowing will help thicken the lawn in no time.
As usually with March, keep an eye on the weather as temperatures can plummet again so keep off the grass until frosts have disappeared.
April Lawncare Tips
With March being unpredictable as ever, April really brings the joy of spring and with the clocks going back brings the longer lighter nights with it.
With a slight increase in temperature, we generally see a consistent increase of steady mile temperatures regularly staying above 9 degrees taking the edge off the cold and we are now seeing soil temperatures start to rise and some essential turf growth and recovery.
With the temperature slightly increasing and longer, lighter days, even through we are 4 months into the year, I have seen on a couple of years gone by heavy snow so just keep an eye out on the weather forecast and bare caution on booking in any lawn renovations you may have.
With that said, now is a great time to start looking to tackle any lawn renovations, giving your lawn a good scarification and aeration removing any moss build up from the long dark, damp months of January and February if you haven't already.
If the winter months have left you with moss, this would be an ideal time to start to do the necessary renovations.
Look at applying Iron to kill the moss; this can either be sprayed on or applied as a granular. The moss will ‘blacken’ off and, once it is dead, then it will need to be raked or scarified out. Follow this with some fertiliser to help the grass fill the gaps caused by the removal of the moss.
If there are any bare or thin patches in the lawn, then those areas will need to be re-seeded. Please ensure that adequate irrigation is applied, as a lack of water is the most common reason that a re-seed fails.
If the lawn is looking hungry, make an application of a spring/summer fertiliser; I would recommend using a slow-release type as this, alongside regular mowing, allows the sward to thicken out.
Aerate the lawn by lightly pricking the surface with a garden fork; this will improve oxygen levels and help rain and irrigation to penetrate the surface and more easily reach the grass roots. These aeration holes are also very useful for re-seeding any areas of the lawn that have either died off or have thinned.
Make sure your mower blades are clean and sharp. Don’t cut the grass short at this stage of the season. Gradually reduce the height of cut to reach your preferred height. The rule of thumb is not to cut off more than a third of the height at any one time.
Maintain neat lawn and path edges by trimming back excess grass growth with lawn edging trimmers on a regular basis which will keep a tidy appearance whilst you gradually reduce your lawns height over the coming weeks.
May Lawncare Tips
After a wet winter we are all looking forward to some long sunny days again which usually bring with it more time in the garden enjoying the outdoors and your manicured lawn!
May is a fantastic time to get get your lawns health and vigour on the front foot and packed with the nutrients it needs to flourish throughout the summer months.
As temperatures begin to rise, the grass will start growing at a faster rate which requires a higher rate of nitrogen throughout these coming weeks and with the right care, your lawn can look beautifully lush and healthy, making your neighbours green with envy!
If you do fertilise your lawn, try using a slow-release fertiliser with a steady balance of nutrients such as a 10-7-7 or 12-7-7 (NPK) with trace elements if preferred. This will help your lawn stay greener for longer without too much top growth and it wont give you a hard time mowing it each week.
I know there is NPK ratios of 28-10-10 or even higher, unless your using it for paddocks keep it low and slow, this will benefit your lawn and you in the long run!
You should be mowing at least once per week now ideally twice as we move into the peak growing period. Little and often is the key as with all of your garden during the growing season.
Pro Tip: Ensure you are never cutting more than a third of the grass height at any one time.
Scalping the grass at this stage not only causes extreme stress to your lawn, it brings with it the potential risk of burn off/scorch if an unexpected heatwave is to arise and if you don't water frequently or have a hosepipe ban, this can bring a host of diseases and problem with it and encourage weed growth.
Always trim the edges of your lawn before cutting and collect any debris with the mower, this makes all the difference in aesthetics, tidy lawn edges.
Keep an eye out for weeds creeping into your lawn and either pull them out by hand or apply a selective weed killer and selecting the right one is crucial, applying a herbicide will 100% kill your lawn, so please ensure you ask your supplier for a lawn weed killer, commonly known as selective weed killers. They will be able to advise you on quantity and varieties available.
If there is any remnant of moss, apply an additional iron sulphur and lightly scarify your lawn, frequent scarification throughout the summer months is crucial to lawn health and reduced the build up of thatch.
June Lawncare Tips
In June with the right care and attention with the weather hopefully being kind, your lawn should now be looking lush and healthy.
Your lawn needs at least 25mm a week to survive or approximately 3mm-4mm a day so if rain is sparce this month, ensure you water it thoroughly, a simple sprinkler system should do the trick, if you are away I would recommend a sprinkler system on a timer set for early mornings or late evenings when the sun is at its lowest to avoid scorch or evaporation.
To help you maintain your lawn to a high standard I would recommend at this time of year to mow far more frequently at least once a week, twice if possible. The height of cut should now be at the summer height of cut between 15-20mm.
Look to apply an additional slow release fertiliser again on your lawn. This will help keep that vibrant green lush colour whilst feeding your lawn with the valuable nutrients it needs.
Using a low balanced NPK ratio again will help provide the nutrients your lawn needs to thrive during the growing season but also helps to keep a healthy balance between appearance and labour. Part of having a beautiful garden is sitting back and enjoying it!
If your lawn is has been laid correctly, or rolled and prepared prior to summer, the height of cut should be between 15-20mm.
Lawns that are free from undulations and thatch can be mown at a height less than 15mm due to no risk of scalping.
As always trim your lawn edges when required but take note of hot spells as these areas are prone to scorch naturally being shorter so monitor the weather and cut when necessary.
If you are lucky enough to have a lawn larger than 600m2 you can if you are skilled and competent enough, invert your lawn edges with the use of a strimmer, but mind out for flying debris, inverting with a strimmer will save time, but ideally the use of edging shears and edgers is optimal for a clean crisp cut. Always sharpen your hand tools and grease each week.
Keep your mower washed and clean each week and give your blades a quick once over, keep them sharp is paramount to a heathy lawn and can blunt throughout the season quickly.
A light scarification/dethatching can be carried out if necessary.
Thatch builds up throughout the season naturally, and as we know thatch holds onto moisture and will begin to rot in the base of your lawn your lawn suppressing nutrients to the grass roots, so uplifting thatch build up is crucial to your lawns health.
July Lawncare Tips
If we experience a heatwave in the latter months of June or in July, increasing your watering is extremely important.
But as it is with excessive heat and moisture, this will stimulate grass growth and the potential build up of red thread caused by prolonged moisture in the lawn.
A blog on tackling red thread will be posted here soon keep an eye out for our latest updates!
To aid the grass in its recovery and to tackle potential disease threats, apply a light feed using a slow-release fertiliser whilst bearing caution to any upcoming dry spells which can cause scorch or what is known as fertiliser burn in hot weather with July being generally the hottest month of the year in the UK so bare caution.
Applying a fertiliser and leaving undetected on a lawn throughout a heatwave ids disastrous for a lawn for a long period of time without moisture.
If it looks like two days of extreme heat, maybe water in first then apply water after but if it has been above thirty degrees for a number of days, wait for milder temperatures before considering applying any fertilisers.
Continue to trim the edges of the lawn as necessary. Maintain the mowing height between 15-20mm to avoid scalping the grass.
If there are any signs of red thread or fungal diseases in your lawn, these are usually small circles where the grass almost looks red or pink in colour turning brown at the base.
This issue can be resolved by feeding the grass with fertilisers or using chemical fungicides but I've always applied a small amount of fertiliser directly onto the affected area for best results to boost any infection out.
Continue to monitor any foreign species in your lawns such as weeds or seeds dropped from birds from feeders or trees.
Check over your mower and ensure you are washing it weekly. If you are mowing multiple lawns, washing is paramount to prevent cross contamination by or transferring diseases or problems from one lawn to another.
Maybe you cut the natural orchard or wildflower pathways with the same mower. Always ensure you clean your mower thoroughly before cutting your formal lawns. Just as you would with your pruning tools, keeping your mower well lubricated and blades sharpened with benefit your lawns health massively.
August Lawncare Tips
July and August are amongst some of the hottest months in the UK and are the most prone drought. Ensuring your lawn is regularly watered this time of year is crucial, warmth and moisture are paramount to a healthy lawn during the summer months.
For best results, opt for either early in the morning or late in the evening to reduce water loss due to evaporation and potentially scorch to the grass swards and foliage if any in your garden. If this is something you may struggle with, a great option would be to install a timed sprinkler system. If your unsure where to start, speak to one of our team and we would be more than happy to help. Head over to www.northhort.com/contact for more information.
Always opt for a thorough saturation of your lawn to really soak the root system, you will be surprised how much moisture it takes to thoroughly saturate the soil and penetrate the root system. It's always best practice to carry out a thorough water than frequent light sprinkles, really soaking a lawn when watering will promote healthy root growth especially in hotter months.
Continue with regular maintenance of cutting and strimming your lawn edges to keep your lawn neat and tidy. I like to carry out a dethatching treatment to keep thatch to a minimum, you'll see a big difference this has on your lawns health and vigour. August is also a good time to aerate your lawn as long as the soil is mist enough to penetrate which will enhance valuable airflow to the roots promoting drainage and moisture absorption.
Keep up with monitoring your lawns for any sneaky weeds that may appear and either pull them out by hand ensuring you are removing the root or apply a selective weed killer for lawns.
Keep up with the maintenance and cleaning of your mower. A nice set of sharp blades and a clean deck goes a long way keeping all moving parts well greased and lubricated. You want to ensure the blades of your mower stay sharp year round and like all your garden tools, including your mower blades need to be kept clean and sharp. Like your favourite secateurs or shears, blunt and dirty blades on a mower will rough cut the swards reducing moisture intake, slow down the healing process and also promote diseases in the lawn causing a greater risk of scorch in hotter weather.
Look out for for any thin patches in your lawn and give your lawn a bit of an for overseed before September/October to give your lawn time to grow and thicken before autumn/winter.
September Lawncare Tips
The end of September is a great time to begin thinking about renovating your lawn.
Historically the 'grass cutting season' in the UK usually kicks off the beginning of March and finishes towards the end of October prior to the plummeting temperatures in November before the frosts begin creeping in.
Of course all of this is weather dependent so be vigilant this time of year of the weather forecast and use this to your advantage.
"You want to aim to have your lawns renovated 5-6 weeks ahead of the frosts before the end of November to be safe".
You want to aim to have your lawns renovated 5-6 weeks ahead of the frosts before the end of November to be safe.
If the past couple of seasons are anything to go by it's hard to judge when exactly is the best time, but a rule of thumb we have always worked with is towards the end of September to mid October prior to the frosts kicking in.
"A rule of thumb we have always worked with is towards the end of September to mid October prior to the frosts kicking in."
If you are not ready then a light scarification would be good but you do need to think about doing it before November.
If you haven't made time for this this season, don't worry too much as early spring can be another great time to consider a lawn renovation ready for the new season ahead.
The recommended course of action for a full renovation entails:
Scarification:
Scarifying involves removing dead grass and accumulated thatch - (thatch is an accumulation of organic matter laying on the soils surface, this is usually loose grass swards from the mower, an underlay of dead grass, leaf matter etc).
The dead grass and thatch lay on top of the soil acting like a sponge fostering the growth of moss and inhibiting the development of deep-rooted grass, to the trained eye its clearly visible.
Consequently, the grass becomes less resilient to future dry spells as its roots struggle to access moisture beneath the surface.
Thatch can also harbour turf diseases like Fusarium and red thread and serve as a breeding ground for moss.
Aeration:
Whether using solid or hollow tines, aerating the lawn reduces surface compaction, facilitating the movement of both air and water through the top layer of turf. This aids in water movement within the soil preventing moss growth and promoting root expansion in the lawn. In the case of hollow tining, the removed cores can either be discarded or repurposed as a dressing for the next spring or autumn.
Reseeding:
Target areas with bare patches as well as thin or uneven grass coverage. Reseeding will not only thicken the lawn but also introduce more robust grass varieties helping to suppress weed growth and moss proliferation.
Topdressing:
Utilise a soil/sand blend to cover the newly applied seeds and level out any depressions or hollows on the lawn's surface.
After application use the back of a garden rake, bristle brush or a lute (lawn leveller) to smooth the dressing.
It's important not to attempt to "bury" the grass; ensure that it remains visible through the topdressing to prevent smothering and potential death of the grass beneath.
Fertilising:
Apply an autumn/winter fertiliser that contains lower levels of Nitrogen and higher amounts of Phosphate and Potash compared to summer feeds.
Phosphate and Potash contribute to root growth and fortify the plant's cell structure, enhancing its resilience and health as it enters the winter season. Opt for a slow-release fertiliser to gradually provide nutrients to the lawn without inducing rapid growth.
Adjust Mowing Height:
After the renovations, raise the mowing height to 30-40mm. Diminished light reaching the base of the grass sward translates to fewer moss spores germinating.
Note:
Given the time of year, there's often talk of heatwaves and Indian Summers which might materialise unexpectedly. Before initiating renovations, monitor weather forecasts diligently as prolonged dry periods following renovations could have adverse effects. Be prepared to irrigate if necessary
The recommended course of action for a full renovation entails:
Scarification: This process involves removing dead grass and accumulated thatch (excessive organic matter on the soil's surface). The dead grass and thatch act like a sponge fostering the growth of moss and inhibiting the development of deep-rooted grass. Consequently, the grass becomes less resilient to future dry spells as its roots struggle to access moisture beneath the surface. Thatch can also harbour turf diseases like Fusarium and serve as a breeding ground for moss.
Aeration: Whether using solid or hollow tines, aerating the lawn reduces surface compaction, facilitating the movement of both air and water through the top layer of turf. This aids in water movement within the soil preventing moss growth and promoting root expansion in the lawn. In the case of hollow tining, the removed cores can either be discarded or repurposed as a dressing for the next spring or autumn.
Reseeding: Target areas with bare patches as well as thin or uneven grass coverage. Reseeding will not only thicken the lawn but also introduce more robust grass varieties helping to suppress weed growth and moss proliferation.
• Topdressing: Utilise a soil/sand blend to cover the newly applied seeds and level out any depressions or hollows on the lawn's surface. After application use the back of a garden rake or a lawn lute/lawn leveller to smooth the dressing. It's important not to attempt to "bury" the grass; ensure that it remains visible through the topdressing to prevent smothering and potential death of the grass beneath.
Fertilising: Apply an autumn/winter fertiliser that contains lower levels of Nitrogen and higher amounts of Phosphate and Potash compared to summer feeds. Phosphate and Potash contribute to root growth and fortify the plant's cell structure, enhancing its resilience and health as it enters the winter season.
Opt for a slow-release fertiliser to gradually provide nutrients to the lawn without inducing rapid growth.
Adjust Mowing Height: After the renovations, raise the mowing height to 30-40mm. Diminished light reaching the base of the grass sward translates to fewer moss spores germinating.
Note: Given the time of year, there's often talk of heatwaves and Indian Summers which might materialise unexpectedly. Before initiating renovations, monitor weather forecasts diligently as prolonged dry periods following renovations could have adverse effects. Be prepared to irrigate if necessary.
October Lawncare Tips
The weather definitely has an autumnal feel to it now with cool mornings and heavy dews. And as those day and night time temperatures fall, so will the soil temperatures; so if you haven’t started your autumn renovations, I would before it’s too late. The milder temperatures will help with germination.
Scarification is necessary as thatch (the build-up of excess organic matter on the surface of the soil) will hold water on the surface like a sponge, encouraging the proliferation of moss and reducing the need for the grass to develop a deep root base. This makes the grass plant less tolerant of dry weather as the roots cannot find moisture. Thatch can also harbour turf diseases such Fusarium.
Aerate the lawn with either solid or hollow tines. The alleviation of compaction in the surface will allow the movement of both air and water though the top layer of the turf. This helps with drainage and therefore helping to prevent moss, and also encourages root development. When hollow tining, the cores will have to be removed; these can either be disposed of or recycled as a dressing for the spring or next autumn.
Re-seed the lawn, not only where the grass is thin or patchy, but also as a way of adding newer more vigorous grasses into the sward.
Topdress the lawn with a soil/sand mix to cover the recently applied seed and to remove dips and hollows from the lawn. Once applied, use the back of a garden rake to level off the dressing. Do not bury the grass, always ensure that it is showing through the top dressing otherwise you can ‘suffocate’ and kill the grass beneath it.
Raise the height of cut after renovations to 30-40mm; any lower and you encourage the build-up of moss within the lawn. The less light that can get to base of the sward the less moss spores that are able to germinate.
Fertilise the lawn with an autumn/winter fertiliser; these are usually low in Nitrogen but have a higher amount of Phosphate and Potash than summer feeds. These latter two nutrients help with root development and strengthen the plant cell walls, therefore allowing the turf to go into winter stronger and healthier. It would be a good idea to apply iron to your lawn to help it get through the winter.
This is also the time that trees shed their leaves, so leaf collection should be done at regular intervals. If leaf litter is left on the lawn it can kill the grass beneath it. You can use your scarifier or brush cartridge to pick up leaves.
Continue to trim lawn edges as and when required to keep them looking neat and tidy.
November Lawncare Tips
Depending on the weather, and if you haven't followed the course of action for renovating your lawn, id keep up with aerating whilst the ground is soft and especially if we have had plenty of rainfall. Now's a great time whilst the soil is moist from the morning dew but as November can be sometimes unpredictable Regularly aerating your lawn would be a good idea. To improve drainage, spike the lawn with a garden fork or mechanical aerator.
Most of the leaves have yet to fall, though once we have a frost this should accelerate the process; it’s important that you collect these regularly, especially if you reseeded this autumn. If leaves are left, they will smother the new grass leaving dead patches that moss will colonise, and you’ll be back to square one.
Your autumn renovations should now have been completed and the lawn can be left to regenerate at its own pace. The recent mild weather and rain should have helped with this however some of your may not have been able to do this with the heavy rainfall. You still have time but be wary of frosts.
If you need to fertilise the lawn, please use an autumn/winter fertiliser; these are usually low in Nitrogen but have a higher amount of Phosphate and Potash than summer feeds. These two last nutrients help with root development and strengthen the plant’s cell walls, therefore allowing the turf to go into winter with stronger and healthier plants. N.B a slow-release fertiliser would be better, as this will slowly introduce the nutrients into the ground over the 3 months or so of its life rather than a sudden flush of growth which could encourage lawn diseases such as Fusarium.
Fertilisers containing high levels of iron can be applied to strengthen the grass and prevent moss growth. Please remember to promptly remove any granules that may touch stone or light paving when using these fertilizers, as the iron can cause staining, resulting in the surface being marked with pink/orange spots.
To prevent moss from accumulating in your lawn, make sure to adjust your mower’s height of cut to be within the range of 30-40mm when cutting the grass.
Continue to trim lawn edges, if you already haven’t done so, with edging shears to keep them looking neat and tidy.
Also prune back any herbaceous plants that are over hanging the lawn or which may do so once the growing season starts again in the new year. These obscure the light to the lawn creating unsightly bald patches and can encourage moss or weeds.
If the grass has a frost, I recommend that you wait until it lifts before going onto the grass as the foot fall can damage the grass, leaving ‘black’ footprints within the sward.
Algae can appear on lawns with poor drainage or excessive shade, or under the drip-line of trees. Yellow or brown patches at this time of year may be caused by the fungal disease fusarium patch, especially in wet weather and in overfed, lush lawns that have been left a bit too long.
Worm casts are a sign of healthy soil, but if you don’t like them on your lawn, brush them off with a hard broom or a power brush, Stihl do a good range of multitools.
December Lawncare Tips
During this season, it is expected that colder temperatures and frosts will arrive. If your lawn is well cared for, nourished, and neatly trimmed, it is advisable to avoid walking on it to prevent damaging the grass. Otherwise, black footprints may emerge, which will then turn brown as the grass blades perish.
Keeping a healthy lawn requires promptly removing all fallen leaves. If neglected, they can prevent sunlight from reaching the grass, causing bare spots that encourage the growth of weeds or moss. Moreover, the build-up of leaf debris may draw worms to the surface. Although this is beneficial for the lawn's biological well-being, it may result in unsightly worm casts and create a fertile environment for weeds in the upcoming spring season. When possible, utilizing a scarifier can be advantageous.
We would recommended applying an Autumn/Winter fertiliser to your lawn if you have not done so already. Unlike summer feeds, these fertilisers contain lower nitrogen levels but higher amounts of phosphate and potash. These nutrients are beneficial for enhancing root growth and fortifying plant cell walls, preparing the turf for winter with strong and healthy plants. Choosing a slow-release fertiliser is preferable as it releases nutrients gradually over a few months, decreasing the likelihood of lawn diseases such as Fusarium.
Using fertilisers rich in iron can help strengthen the grass and avoid moss growth, but it's important to be careful to prevent any staining on stone surfaces or light-coloured paving.
During winter, it is important to trim back any plants, low-hanging branches, or shrubs that block light over the lawn or may do so in the upcoming growing season. This helps avoid them obstructing light to the lawn, which could lead to unattractive bare spots and promote the growth of moss or weeds.
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