Brits urged to do 'essential' task right now to get 'thicker and greener' lawns

Lawn renovation is best carried out in October as temperatures are comfortably lower while the soil is warm, moist and workable. A gardening expert has shared a few things gardeners need to be doing now.

October is the ideal time for lawn renovation as temperatures are comfortably lower while the soil is warm, moist and workable.

To get your grass looking its best in spring and protect it over winter, Jamie Shipley, gardening expert and managing director at Hedges Direct has explain a few things gardeners need to be doing now.

Reduce lawn cutting

Usually, your lawn will need cutting once a week during autumn. However, this will depend on the weather as autumn rain can increase growth, so you may need to cut more regularly. Mowing in the winter usually isn't needed at all as your grass will be in a dormant state. However, if the weather is mild and the grass is still growing, you may need to trim it with a mower.

Apply grass seeds and fertiliser

October is a "great time" to sow grass seed as there's plenty of rain so you can cut down on the watering, the soil is still warm, and there are fewer weeds and foraging birds. Applying fertiliser in autumn will prepare your grass for harsh weather conditions in winter, as well as "increase recovery time" if damaged.

Jamie said: "Keep your lawn looking thicker, greener and healthier by applying an autumn fertiliser to protect it from disease and avoid a moss and weed invasion."

Remove dead leaves

Dead leaves can trap moisture on your grass, increasing the chances of fungal diseases like snow mould developing, reports the Express. Jamie warned that this can "kill patches of your lawn" and cause "lasting damage".

Scarify lawn

Scarification, as explained, is the process of getting rid of organic debris such as moss and thatch from your lawn's surface. Without regular scarification, this can lead to the ground drying up, creating a barrier for water and nutrients which in turn could suffocate your grass and make it "dry out and suffocate".

The ideal time to scarify is during autumn, but be sure to do it before it gets too chilly to prevent any harm to your lawn. Post-scarifying, it's recommended to fertilise the turf to encourage "healthy growth and recovery", as stated by a lawn care expert.