GARDEN ADVICE

Autumn Lawn Care

Giving the lawn a little autumn t.l.c. really does make a difference to the way the grass copes with the winter and looks the following spring.

As the temperature drops the grass will grow more slowly and the frequency of mowing can be reduced. The height of the mower blades should also be raised.

Leaves on the lawn reduce the light and air getting to the grass and allow moss and disease to gain ground. Giving the lawn a good rake (scarifying) will remove dead material and encourage the grass to thicken by developing runners and side shoots.

Many lawns have some areas that have become compacted. They may be high traffic areas (the route to the washing line) or dips and hollows. They are often indicated by puddling after rain. Air needs to be introduced to the soil in these areas to penetrate to the roots of the grass and assist the water to get down into the soil. A garden fork or hollow tine fork (which removes cores of soil) will do the job or a mechanical spiker can be hired if the problem is extensive.

An autumn lawn feed will set the lawn up for winter and give it a great start the following spring. Avoid using leftover spring lawn feed because it contains different proportions of nitrogen, phosphate and potassium. Nitrogen greens up the lawn and is more necessary in spring and less so in autumn when soft green growth is more vulnerable to weather damage. Phosphate promotes root development and potassium strengthens the grass to withstand the rigours of winter. Some autumn feeds also contain moss killer.

Feeding the lawn can be enjoyable. Choose a good day which is not too windy. The soil needs to be moist but the grass dry. Avoid cutting the lawn for three days before the lawn feed is applied and for four days thereafter. However if no rain falls within two days of feeding the lawn the product will need to be watered in. The product can be spread by hand or in a push along spreader which can be bought, borrowed or hired. I find it quite therapeutic pushing the spreader up and down the lawn. If the feed contains moss killer, avoid spilling it on clothes or paths. Ferrous sulphate is one of the ingredients and it can leave nasty brown stains.

The packet of lawn feed will give the area it covers on the bag or box. Pace out the lawn to estimate its size. A good pace is approximately 1m. Pacing the length and breath of the lawn and multiplying the two figures gives the size is square metres. Like all garden chemicals, lawn food should only be used strictly in accordance with the instructions.