Transitioning from Summer to Autumn Lawn Care: What You Need to Know
Your lawn’s needs in summer can dramatically differ from its needs in winter. You can go from seeding and feeding to tackle the drought conditions to barely needing to water the lawns at all!
However, unless you’re a lawn care expert, you might not know exactly what the transition from summer to autumn lawn care can look like. We’ve included some helpful advice below:
Raise Your Cutting Height
Autumn is not quite the season for putting your mower into hibernation. We’re still treated to a few good days here and there! However, you’re likely not far away. While you might have mowed your lawns quite short in summer, you may like to start raising the height in autumn. Try to keep the lawn height at around six to eight centimetres.
The taller your grass is, the more shade your soil gets and the more moisture it can retain. This can be helpful as the weather becomes cooler and drier.
Start Fertilising
Your lawns will likely need a little helping hand during the cooler months of the year. As soon as summer turns to autumn, venture to your local garden centre and purchase a fertiliser with a decent amount of potassium. The potassium content will strengthen the grass roots and make them more tolerant of the upcoming cold weather.
Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for when and how to apply the fertiliser. Most manufacturers recommend putting it on your lawn around mid to late autumn.
Aerate Your Lawn
The cooler, wetter weather in autumn can take a real toll on your soil and grass. When your lawn is water-logged and sees plenty of traffic, it’s often not long until the soil is packed down. When it’s compacted, it’s not able to access vital nutrients, air, and water. This can dramatically affect grass growth!
Fortunately, when you add lawn aeration to your autumn to-do list, that doesn’t have to be a problem. Aerating your lawn with a manual aerator or an aerating machine involves putting multiple small holes into the soil. Grass roots can then get everything they need to thrive and create healthy, strong grass blades.
Overseed the Bald Patches
Summer is not always kind to our lawns. After lawn games and general use, it’s not uncommon for a few bald patches to appear. The good news is that they don’t have to be there forever. Autumn is an excellent opportunity to overseed your lawn and enjoy new growth in the seasons ahead.
Simply choose a grass seed blend that suits your region and spread it evenly over the existing lawn to help it blend in. Don’t forget to water it regularly so it has a chance to germinate and establish. If you have pets, do your best to keep them off new grass for around two or three weeks to give your lawns a fighting chance of survival.
Adjust Your Watering Schedule
Unless there have been water restrictions in place, you may have been watering your lawn throughout summer to stave off drought conditions. After all, the more water your lawn gets, the more luscious and green it is!
Autumn is the best time to start adjusting your watering schedule. The cooler temperatures are about to set in, and evaporation rates will reduce. Your lawn will still need water, but you can water deeply and more infrequently.
Get Rid of the Lawn Weeds
Weeds are one of the most frustrating things about being an avid gardener. It can sometimes feel like you spend more time ripping out weeds than actually tending to the plants you want! Your lawn is no different. They, too, can succumb to pesky lawn weeds.
Autumn is an ideal time to be focusing on eradicating lawn weeds. Purchase selective herbicides that minimise harm to your lawn while still giving lawn weeds their marching orders. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions and recommendations and avoid applying on windy days.
Remove Leaves
As beautiful as autumn is, it can also be messy. Fallen leaves can end up all over your property, smothering your lawns and putting them at risk of disease. Get into the habit of raking or removing leaves often. You might even consider investing in a leaf blower to make it a fast, easy, and fun task!
Alternatively, leave them on your lawn and use the mulching feature on your lawn mower. The smaller leaf litter can function as a natural compost.
Leave Autumn Lawn Care to the Experts
Autumn lawn care might be necessary to keep your yard in tip-top shape, but that doesn’t mean you have to do it! You can contact the friendly team at Crewcut and get a helping hand. Our lawn care experts can help with a range of autumn yard tasks, like lawn mowing, tree trimming, water blasting, and more.