OUR BLOG

Are you wondering whether there’s anything left to do for your lawn in October? Well, now that autumn’s in full swing, it’s all about ensuring your grass enters winter in the best possible shape. Read on for your checklist of mid-autumn lawn care tasks. 

Your October Lawn Care Checklist:

We all know the good old British weather isn’t reliable (especially after the summer we’ve just had!) but, regardless of whether we see typical temperatures for this time of year, or are treated to a late second summer, the lawn care tasks for early October remain the same.

October Lawn Care: Mowing

October weather tends to be quite cold and wet, so you shouldn’t have to mow as often as in spring, because growth is usually slower at this time of year. Regardless, it’s still essential to maintain a good mowing regime to preserve your turf’s health!

Cutting your grass triggers a quick release of growth hormone in your grass plants, which helps keep the turf strong and vibrantly green. We recommend raising the cutting blade in autumn because longer grass is more robust and survives better with autumn’s reduced sunlight hours. Additionally, longer grass protects your lawn from the seasonal attack of moss and weeds, which are particularly potent in October. 

Top tip: It’s best to mow in the afternoon in the autumn to allow the morning dew to dry from the leaves.

Lawn Scarification

Scarifying is a crucial maintenance technique to remove moss or dead organic matter, also known as the thatch layer. This organic layer suffocates the lawn.

October is your last chance to tackle this lawn care task. If you leave it any later in the year, the temperatures will be too low for the grass to recover. In fact, if October is unseasonably cold or if you live in the north of the UK, you might be better off leaving this job until the spring.

Since scarifying leaves small wounds on the grass plants, which can promote dehydration, avoid performing this task in full sun. After scarifying, your grass will be exposed, so fertilise to help strengthen the roots, then topdress and overseed to fill out any bare patches in your lawn.

Repair the bald patches!

All lawns need a burst of new life every now and then, so if you’ve discovered bald patches in your lawn, don’t leave them. Your grass may grow back eventually, but weeds and moss will take its place before it’s had a chance to bounce back. 

Overseeding is an essential autumnal lawn care task, helping breathe new life into your lawn. Your soil needs to be at least 10ºC to trigger germination. But don’t worry if the temperature has dropped slightly below this, soil holds onto the summer heat until at least the end of October.

Look after your lawn this October

As the autumn weather sets in, it’s time to start winding down the garden for the colder months ahead. If you have a lawn, there is still plenty to be done to ensure it stays looking its best.

If you need a helping hand, the Rosewood Maintenance team can help. Offering a comprehensive range of landscaping and maintenance services, we can ensure your lawn gets the TLC it deserves, alongside anything else needed to get the garden of your dreams! Contact us today to get started.