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Autumn and Winter Lawn Care
Heavy rainfall as we have had in recent weeks may lead to compaction of the soil and sub soil. Air pockets naturally found in soil become waterlogged and drainage is further decreased. Wet humid conditions cause several turf diseases. Weed growth becomes prolific with no competition from grasses.
However the autumn and winter provides an opportunity to carry out some lawn care which is not practical earlier in the year. This can significantly improve both the appearance and overall health of your lawn.
- A warm, wet autumn/winter is ideal for over-seeding your lawn to thicken up the sward (grass).
The best defence against weed attack is thick healthy grass. Top-dressing your lawn with a sandy mixture of loam and soil will stimulate the lawn surface improving drainage and discouraging moss development. Over seeding is most successful when carried out just after thorough scarification and immediately prior to a period of warm wet weather to improve seed germination and speed up general lawn recovery.
- Aeration and/or spiking is of benefit to all lawns especially those on heavy or clay soils.
In any case it should be carried out every 2 to 3 years over the whole lawn area. Compaction is relieved by spiking through the use of solid tines such as a garden fork, or aeration using hollow tines which remove a plug of soil and thatch. The holes can then be left or fine sand may be brushed in to promote natural air pockets in the soil layer and thus increase overall drainage.
- Occasional, regular scarification: the process of removing dead grass, thatch and some weeds (e.g. moss) from the surface of the soil.
All lawns, even those in excellent condition, will require some form of scarification on a regular albeit infrequent basis. NB Over-scarification will not help the appearance of your lawn and may reduce the health and density of new growth.
A major weed problem in lawns is moss. This weed has no roots but spreads across the surface of the soil, absorbing nutrients from the damp surface. It travels as airborne spores and grows quickly if left unchecked. To avoid the spread of moss in your lawn, reduce the application of nitrogen-rich feeds, and increase those rich in potassium and phosphorous. You may require an application of herbicide as well. NB in order to remove the moss completely you will need to have raked or scarified the lawn following herbicidal treatment. It will be plainly obvious as brown or black patches in the sward. To remove moss completely it must first be treated or in scarifying the area you will simply spread spores further afield.
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