Mario Bautista
A gardening expert says the colder weather is the “ideal time” to carry out lawn renovation
This month could be the perfect time for some lawn renovations, while the soil remains warm, moist and workable in the milder weather.
Jamie Shipley, a gardening expert and managing director at Hedges Direct, has exclusively shared some tips on what gardeners should be getting on with in October to ensure their grass looks its best in the spring.
Firstly, he suggests reducing lawn cutting. Typically, your lawn will require cutting once a week during autumn. However, this can vary depending on the weather, as autumn rain can stimulate growth, meaning you may need to cut more frequently.
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Winter mowing usually isn’t necessary as your grass will be in a dormant state. But if the weather is mild and the grass continues to grow, you may need to trim it with a mower, reports the Express.
Secondly, Jamie recommends applying grass seeds and fertiliser. October is a “great time” to sow grass seed as there’s plenty of rain so you can reduce watering, the soil is still warm, and there are fewer weeds and foraging birds.
Applying fertiliser in autumn will prepare your grass for harsh winter conditions and “increase recovery time” if damaged. Jamie advised, “Keep your lawn looking thicker, greener and healthier by applying an autumn fertiliser to protect it from disease and avoid a moss and weed invasion.”
Lastly, it’s important to remove dead leaves. Dead leaves can trap moisture on your grass, increasing the chances of fungal diseases like snow mould developing.
Jamie warned that this can “kill patches of your lawn” and cause “lasting damage”.
Another top tip is to ‘scarify’ the lawn before winter. This involves the elimination of organic debris such as moss and thatch from your lawn’s surface.
Neglecting this can result in the lawn drying out, hindering water and nutrients from penetrating the soil to reach the grassroots, potentially leading to a “dry out and suffocate” scenario for your turf.
Autumn is a suitable time for scarifying, just ensure it’s done before the cold sets in too much to prevent harm to your lawn.
The expert added that fertilising the grass after scarifying will also promote “healthy growth and recovery”.
