30 Sep October Lawn Care: Your Essential Guide to Prepping for Winter

October is a critical month for lawn care, and if you haven’t already tackled a few key tasks, now is your last chance. With winter on the horizon, it’s time to make sure your lawn is ready to face the cooler months. Below are essential lawn care tips to ensure you don’t miss anything before the colder weather sets in.

What Should I Do to My Lawn in October?

Here’s your to-do list:

• Final mow of the year
• Apply autumn feed
• Last opportunity to scarify
• Last chance to overseed
• Aeration
• Moss control
• Collect fallen leaves

Should You Still Mow in October?

Yes, October is the time for your final mow. As temperatures cool, grass growth slows significantly, meaning this will likely be your last month of regular mowing. Adjust your mowing schedule to every two weeks or even less, and ensure you keep the mower blades higher than usual—raising them by at least one setting. If your lawn suffers from moss, keep your grass around 1-2 cm above the moss level for best results.

If you’ve recently overseeded, this is also your last opportunity to mow the newly sown areas. Allow the new grass to grow to around 2-3 inches before trimming it, ensuring it has a tidy appearance before winter sets in. And don’t forget to keep your mower clean! Grass clippings, especially damp ones, can cause blockages or rust, so brush down your mower after each use.

Aeration

Autumn’s damp conditions are perfect for aerating your lawn. Use a garden fork or hollow tine aerator to relieve soil compaction, which helps improve drainage and reduces moss. Aerating the lawn will also help it absorb nutrients from any fertiliser or treatment you apply afterward.

Autumn Feed: Is It Too Late to Fertilise?

No, it’s definitely not too late to fertilise your lawn. October is actually one of the best months for it, as the cooler temperatures and moisture from rainfall help the fertiliser to work effectively. By providing nutrients now, you can strengthen your lawn and prepare it for winter. This process, often referred to as “winterising,” encourages root development, making your grass more resilient throughout the colder months.

Use a spring/summer fertiliser at the start of October, switching to an autumn fertiliser later in the month. This will give your lawn the best chance to absorb nutrients and withstand winter’s harsh conditions.

Can You Scarify in October?

October is your last chance to scarify your lawn, but it’s not always necessary. Scarifying—removing dead grass and other debris from your lawn—can be harsh on your grass, especially if temperatures are too cold for recovery. If you’re in the north of the UK or experiencing an early cold spell, consider postponing this task until spring.

If you do need to scarify, aim to do it after a good rainfall, which will soften the soil and make the process easier. Be sure to fertilise and overseed afterward to help the grass recover and fill any bald patches.

Overseeding and Laying New Lawns

October represents your last chance to overseed bare patches before winter. Grass seed needs temperatures above 9°C to germinate, so it’s crucial to act now before colder weather sets in. If the temperature drops too low, the seeds will remain dormant until spring.

If you’re planning on laying a new lawn, consider using turf rather than grass seed. Turf can be laid at any time, as long as the ground isn’t frozen, making it a more reliable option for autumn projects.

Watering

There’s typically no need for regular watering in October, as cooler temperatures help the ground retain moisture, and rainfall is usually plentiful. However, you should water any newly sown grass seed, scarified areas, or fresh turf to ensure successful growth.

Moss Control

Moss is a common autumn problem, and it can easily take over your lawn if left unchecked. Raking it out in October can be tricky, as the cooler weather slows grass growth, meaning the moss could come back with a vengeance.

Instead of solely focusing on the lawn, consider cutting back large trees and shrubs that are casting shade over your lawn, as moss thrives in shady, damp conditions. Keeping your grass slightly longer than the moss (around 1-2 cm) can also help. Regular aeration will improve drainage, making your lawn a less hospitable environment for moss to grow.

Additional October Lawn Care Tips

To ensure your lawn stays in top condition as winter approaches, follow these extra tips:

• Leaf Collection: Fallen leaves can cause all sorts of issues, from encouraging moss to creating damp conditions that invite worms. Make sure to collect leaves regularly and add them to your compost heap.
• Weeds: With growth slowing down, weeds shouldn’t be much of a problem at this time of year. If any do appear, manual removal is usually sufficient.
• Pests: Worms are beneficial to your lawn, but their casts (small piles of soil) can become an issue when it’s damp. Removing fallen leaves can reduce their food supply, minimising worm cast problems.
• Lawn Diseases: The most common autumn lawn disease is fusarium, which makes grass look patchy and straw-like. If you spot any signs, improve drainage through aeration, and plan to scarify in spring if you notice a build-up of thatch.

Conclusion: Preparing for the Cold Months Ahead

October is the time to wrap up your lawn care tasks before winter arrives. Mow your lawn for the final time, scarify if necessary, overseed bare patches, and make sure to apply an autumn fertiliser to give your grass a nutrient boost. Aeration and moss control are also important tasks to help your lawn survive the colder, wetter months.

By following these tips, you’ll have a healthy, vibrant lawn that’s ready to bounce back in spring. Don’t forget to keep an eye on your lawn throughout the winter and tackle any issues as they arise.

“October is the month to put your lawn to bed, ensuring it wakes up refreshed and ready to thrive come spring.”

Don’t let your lawn suffer through winter—get ahead of the game with our October lawn care guide. For more tips and expert advice, sign up for our monthly lawn care newsletter!