The sun is starting to set a little earlier and the weather is cooling down. Yes, it seems like autumn is here! You’ll be thinking it’s almost time to hang up your gardening hat…but not yet! Did you know that your autumn lawn care regime is one of the most important all year? Giving your lawn some TLC now will give it stronger ‘legs’ to soldier on through winter and stand up to the harsh cold temperatures.
Fertilising your lawn now will encourage strong root development, better winter colour and overall health and vigor. The best fertiliser to use is a good NPK slow release fertiliser such as the Sir Walter Premium Lawn Food. Containing Nitrogen (N), Phosphorous (P) & Potassium (K) plus trace elements, it contains all the essential nutrients your lawn will need to handle the change in temperature.
For best results from your autumn fertilising, aim to apply it around the Easter break. This way the soil will still have enough warmth to create the soil borne reaction required for your lawn to take in the nutrients provided by the fertiliser. Just don’t leave it too late, as the nitrogen-fixing bacteria in your soil go into ‘hibernation’ and won’t be able to do its job.
Over summer your lawn may have had a bit of fungus, or even an attack of Army Grubs in the later months which have given a few areas a hard time. Ideally you want to encourage rapid recovery in these areas so that you minimise any thin patches coming into winter. A good way to boost these areas is with a liquid fertiliser. Liquid fertilisers contain plant ready nutrients which can be absorbed through the leaf of the grass as well as the soil. Look to the Lawn Lovers range for the best solution to revive these troubled areas.
Just like you, the roots of your lawn need to be able to breathe. Lawn compaction can be a problem in high traffic areas and damp shaded areas, and particularly after high rainfall. If the soil is compacted, the lawn with thin out and eventually disappear. Keep on top of 
compaction particularly coming into winter by loosening the soil with a pitchfork or aerator sandals. If you have quite large areas which need to be aerated, you may want to look at hiring an aerator or coring machine. Applying gypsum to clay soils is also recommended at this time as well.
If you’re located in an area which has just experienced quite a hot dry summer, it would also be recommended that you apply a wetting agent to correct any soil hydrophobicy issues. When soils become hydrophobic they repel water rather than absorbing it. This means that your watering becomes ineffective and dry patches occur much more frequently. A simple application of a hose-on wetting agent such as Lawn Lovers Lawn Soaker will work to correct this.
Last but not least, when it comes to mowing, autumn is the time to start increasing the length and reducing the frequency. Leaving your lawn a little longer will mean it is better equipped for photosynthesis and weed suppression. Especially when it comes to shade, the longer the length the better chance it will have against the colder temperatures.
Now you can hang up your hat!
