Is Your Lawn Ready For Winter Yet?

Is Your Lawn Ready For Winter Yet?
The Autumn Programme
As with most things in the garden, if you want the best out of your lawn all year round, you must put in a little bit of work and get your lawn ready for winter. Put it to bed happy, so to speak!

The autumn programme really starts in September, but remember that a lot of what you need to do is related to the weather, the whereabouts you live, is your lawn open to all elements or protected, the type of lawn and so on and so on. You really do need to adjust this programme to your own situation and treat it as more of a guide, BUT you do need to “put in the work!”.

September.
This is the month when you do tend to be busy with your lawn but remember that it will all be worthwhile in the spring and summer.
Keep cutting the grass but start reducing the frequency of your mowing and just start to raise the blades (height of cut), a little bit. You should be mowing about ¼” above your summer cutting height and only every fortnight, as a general rule.
Take care not to mow your lawn when it is particularly wet at this time.

One of the things to watch out for in September is that this is the month that worms may become active in your lawn. Use a good quality lawn dressing to control any cast-forming worms and deal with any other pests and diseases that may try to gain a foothold. Preferably us a product that will also feed the grassroots at the same time.

Lawn repairs should be carried out during any showery weather as the rain will obviously help any new seed to germinate or new turf to “bed-in”.
Remember that new lawns by seeding should be planted about now as this is the best time, but turfing can continue into November if the weather permits.
It is probably best to get all smaller repairs and bare patches dealt with now by seeding if you can, you can also use turf later if this does not work.

Make sure you scarify your lawn to de-thatch it in September, you can finish this job in October but it is best done sooner rather than later.
Scarifying, for those that have not come across this term before, is where you rake your lawn quite aggressively to remove any dead grass and debris gathered at the root level (this is referred to as “thatch”).
It is quite a time consuming and physical job so you may want to do it in sections if you have a large lawn, (it is very good exercise if you want to stay fit!).
After you have completed this job you then need to aerate, or spike your lawn. This is where you use a garden fork, or a specially bought aerator, and make a series of holes in your lawn about 3 to 5 inches deep (75mm - 125mm), all over the entire area, or at least any hard, compacted areas, especially where there is a lot of traffic e.g. Where the kids play, the pathway to the garage or shed, that sort of area is likely to become compacted and hard.
This aerating allows the earth to breathe and the roots of the grass to grow healthily, so please do not ignore these two steps. Yes, they are probably the two hardest jobs to do on your lawn but they will show great results.

Any diseased areas showing should be treated now with a systemic fungicide and use a good quality lawn dressing to feed and protect from moss.

October/November.
During October regular mowing of your lawn should probably come to an end, but, depending on weather and conditions, it is not beyond the realms of possibility to give them a cut in November, or even December. Just keep an eye on the weather and certainly do not cut in frosty weather. Make the last cut or two quite high and not when the lawn is wet. Trim the edges and don’t forget that top dressing.
Pack your cutting tools away for the winter after a good clean and “oil-up”.

Make sure that you keep the lawn free of leaves and debris as this will just aggravate any worm problem and can set the stage for diseases.
November is too late to use lawn seed but is a good month for turfing.

December.
Not much to do now, keep the lawn free from leaves and rubbish and try to stay off of it as much as possible. If you have to walk a path often then think about putting down a board or stepping stones. Think of the winter as your lawns “hibernating” stage and try not to disturb it too often.

If you carry out your Autumn programme with care and attention your lawn will reward you, not only next year, but for many years to come because you have set the foundations for strong and healthy growth.
Next year the work will be easier because your lawn will be healthier, that’s it’s own way of saying “thank you for looking after me”.