Carry out autumn lawn care, as long as the soil isn’t waterlogged and the weather isn’t very wet, very dry or frosty. This will improve the lawn’s resilience and appearance next year.
After scarifying and aerating, apply an organic autumn lawn feed if your grass is growing poorly. Autumn feed is rich in potassium and phosphorus, to encourage hardiness and root growth. Don’t feed with leftover summer feed, as this contains too much nitrogen, which stimulates lush growth that would be vulnerable to disease at this time of year.
Remove fallen leaves from lawns so they don’t smother the grass, blocking out light and moisture. Raking is the best option, but on large lawns a leaf-blower will make the job much easier. Battery-powered models are quieter, greener and better for air quality than petrol blowers.
Mow if necessary during mild weather, as grass continues to grow in temperatures above 7°C, on a slightly higher cutting height than in summer. Mowing will also help to reduce the vigour of annual weeds that have sprung up in lawns sown earlier in the autumn.
Plant spring-flowering bulbs in lawns to add colour and pollinator-friendly flowers – great choices include snowdrops, crocuses and daffodils. Plant in specific areas that can be left unmown before and after flowering.
Lay turf onto prepared soil. Avoid walking on newly laid turf – leave it undisturbed for several weeks to allow the new roots to establish.
Sow grass seed on prepared ground in warmer regions of the UK, but it’s getting too late in cooler locations – for good germination, soil temperature should be at least 7°C. A good indication is that you’ll also see weed seedlings germinating above this temperature.
Sow a wildflower meadow in milder areas, and/or plant wildflower plugs into existing lawns.
Mow recently sown areas of grass for the first time, to thicken them up before winter. They should only need mowing once this year. Set the cutting height to at least 5cm (2in). Mowing will also help to reduce competition from weed seedlings.
Toadstools and fairy rings often appear in lawns at this time of year. Most are harmless saprophytic fungi that feed on decaying organic matter and don’t harm the lawn. However, you may wish to remove toadstools if the lawn is accessible to small children, wearing gloves.
Consider laying stepping stones through your lawn if it’s walked over regularly in wet weather, to avoid causing damage and muddy patches. Set the stones level with the soil surface so they don’t interfere with mowing.
Look out for waterlogging as the weather gets wetter. To improve drainage, spike the lawn with a garden fork or mechanical aerator, then brush a mix of sharp sand and loam into the holes. See our guide to autumn lawn care, or tackle in spring, depending on the weather.
Algae can appear on lawns with poor drainage or excessive shade, or under the drip-line of trees. Prune back any overhanging trees or shrubs to improve airflow and light. Or consider replacing the lawn with shade-tolerant groundcover plants instead.
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. Small patches should recover; larger areas may need re-seeding.
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.
See all our lawn care advice.
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