Autumn has arrived, bringing a host of new gardening tasks, and one major maintenance job on many gardeners’ minds is reviving drab and depleted lawns. After record summer temperatures, lawns may need extra work to prepare for colder months, making autumn the perfect time for maintenance.
Expert’s autumn lawn guide
Gardening expert and TikTok creator Ish recently shared an easy-to-follow lawn guide for autumn, explaining how lawns can be revitalised before winter. He wrote in the video’s caption: “By taking care of your grass by introducing airflow and fixing patches, you’ll not only have a lovely lawn over winter but a stronger root base for next year.”
Depending on the condition of your lawn, there are several steps you can take, but Ish explained that one task should not be skipped: scarification. Before that, he recommended addressing lawn compaction, especially if the lawn has had heavy foot traffic. High temperatures and dry conditions can make the ground rock hard, so lawn compaction helps soften it.
How to scarify and aerate
An aerator can be used to poke holes in the ground every six to eight inches apart, allowing more air to reach the roots and helping them grow stronger. When scarifying, a hand rake or a specialist scarifying rake can be used to pull “channels” into the grass and soil, removing a layer of thatch from the surface.
Scarifying works by using rotating blades on a machine to cut into the lawn, removing layers of dead grass, moss, and debris, and stimulating grass growth. This removal improves the lawn's health by allowing better airflow, water, and nutrient penetration to the soil.
Ish said: “Now, what this is is a collection of dead grass and some of the weaker grass, and it slightly thins out the lawn, which you wouldn’t think would be a good thing, but it actually allows more airflow and a thicker lawn. So, getting rid of it actually makes it better.”
Aftercare and fixing patches
B&Q advises giving the lawn a good amount of water after scarifying to help the soil absorb moisture. It also explains that the best time to aerate the lawn is one or two days after a rain shower, while the soil is moist.
For any patches remaining after the summer heat, Ish advised making a lawn paste of waste, lawn compost, and grass seed. Rough up the surface with a small hand rake, then apply the paste directly to the patch. Ish opts for lawn compost because it helps retain moisture and contains zinc, which helps the lawn seed germinate faster.
