Restart mowing

If your grass is growing well, you should now restart mowing. Leaving it to become very long can weaken the lawn and make it harder to manage as growth slows later in the season.

However, resist the temptation to cut it really short. Your lawn is likely to still be recovering from the dry conditions. And a slightly higher cut is always better as we head into autumn, helping the grass cope with cooler and wetter conditions.

You may find patchy areas which look like they need repairing, but perhaps wait for another few weeks before returfing, just to give it a chance.

If the ground becomes very wet, give the mower a miss for a few days. Mowing saturated soil can compact it and leave ruts across the lawn.

Clear away the leaves

The leaves will soon be falling! A scattering of autumn leaves can look lovely, but a thick layer left on the lawn will block light and air from reaching the grass. This can encourage moss and fungal problems, particularly as conditions become damper.

Try to clear leaves regularly, especially after windy days. They can go on the compost heap or be collected separately to make leaf mould.

Give the soil some air

After the long, dry summer, your soil may be compacted, particularly on lawns that have had plenty of foot traffic. Aerating the lawn helps air, water and nutrients get down to the grass roots.

For a smaller lawn, simply pushing a garden fork into the soil at regular intervals can help. If you have a larger lawn, a hollow-tine aerator is worth considering.

Repair those bare patches

Autumn’s combination of cooler temperatures, rain and good grass-growing conditions makes it a great time to repair any areas that were damaged by the summer.

For smaller patches, rake away any dead grass, loosen the soil and sow some suitable lawn seed. Keep it moist while the new grass gets established.

If your lawn has suffered more extensive damage, now is a perfect time to returf, as new turf should have time to establish a good root system before winter really sets in.

Give it an autumn feed

Finally, consider giving your lawn an autumn feed to help strengthen it before winter. Choose a fertiliser formulated for autumn rather than a high-nitrogen summer feed, which encourages lots of leafy growth rather than helping the grass prepare for colder conditions.

A little work now will leave your lawn stronger and healthier as winter approaches – and better prepared to burst back into life next spring.

Key points

1. Restart mowing – but raise the cutting height.
2. Keep it clear – regularly remove leaves so they don’t smother the grass.
3. Give it a boost – repair damaged areas and use a suitable autumn feed to help strengthen the lawn before winter.

If you would like further advice on lawn care  or would like to talk to us about ordering turf, please contact us on 01392 231040 or email sales@wesellturf.com

Give your lawn time to recover

The first rule after a drought is simple: don’t rush to mow.

Rain will encourage new growth, but your lawn may still be under stress. Give the grass time to absorb the moisture and start producing fresh green growth before putting it under the additional stress of mowing.

When you do mow, make sure your mower blades are sharp and set them higher than usual. Removing too much of the grass leaf can put unnecessary strain on a lawn that is still recovering. Avoid cutting more than around a third of the grass height at any one time.

Resist the urge to overwater

Once the rain arrives, there’s usually no need to reach for the hose – and for most of us, there’s still a hosepipe ban. Natural rainfall should provide the moisture your lawn needs, particularly if the ground has had a chance to properly rehydrate.

If conditions turn dry again and the hosepipe ban is lifted, occasional deep watering is generally more beneficial than frequent, light watering, as it encourages roots to grow deeper into the soil.

Check for damaged areas

Don’t be too quick to assume that brown grass is dead. If the crowns and roots are still alive, new growth may appear surprisingly quickly once moisture returns.

However, if you have areas that remain bare, thin or heavily damaged after a few weeks of suitable growing conditions, it may be time to consider repairing them.

Small patches can often be reseeded, while larger or badly damaged areas may benefit from returfing. Autumn is an excellent time to lay new turf in the South West, as the combination of warmer soil and increased rainfall gives new grass a good opportunity to establish before winter.

Give your lawn a helping hand

Once your lawn has started actively growing again, gently rake away any dead material and consider aerating compacted areas (for more info check out our tips for aeration here). Aeration helps air, water and nutrients reach the roots and can be particularly useful if the ground has become hard and compacted during a prolonged dry spell.

A suitable autumn lawn feed can also help strengthen grass ahead of winter, but avoid feeding a lawn that is still dormant or visibly stressed.

Most importantly, be patient. Your lawn has survived the drought; now it needs a little time to recover. With sensible mowing, good moisture levels and some autumn TLC, it should soon be looking greener, healthier and ready to face the seasons ahead.

Key points:

• Don’t mow too soon: Give your lawn a chance to recover first.
• Damage may not be permanent: Wait to see if new shoots appear.
• Returf in the autumn: This is an ideal season to lay new turf.

If you would like further advice on lawn care  or would like to talk to us about ordering turf, please contact us on 01392 231040 or email sales@wesellturf.com