Warning: Use of undefined constant powered_by - assumed 'powered_by' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /home/thegui11/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wp-followme/followme.php on line 58
Warning: Use of undefined constant powered_by - assumed 'powered_by' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /home/thegui11/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wp-followme/followme.php on line 58
Warning: Use of undefined constant powered_by - assumed 'powered_by' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /home/thegui11/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wp-followme/followme.php on line 58
Warning: Use of undefined constant powered_by - assumed 'powered_by' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /home/thegui11/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wp-followme/followme.php on line 58
Warning: Use of undefined constant powered_by - assumed 'powered_by' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /home/thegui11/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wp-followme/followme.php on line 58
Warning: Use of undefined constant powered_by - assumed 'powered_by' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /home/thegui11/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wp-followme/followme.php on line 58
Warning: Use of undefined constant powered_by - assumed 'powered_by' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /home/thegui11/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wp-followme/followme.php on line 58
Warning: Use of undefined constant powered_by - assumed 'powered_by' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /home/thegui11/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wp-followme/followme.php on line 58
Warning: Use of undefined constant powered_by - assumed 'powered_by' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /home/thegui11/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wp-followme/followme.php on line 58
Warning: Use of undefined constant powered_by - assumed 'powered_by' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /home/thegui11/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wp-followme/followme.php on line 58
Warning: Use of undefined constant powered_by - assumed 'powered_by' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /home/thegui11/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wp-followme/followme.php on line 58
Autumn lawn care that MUST be done
Having my own little gardening business and, therefore, pottering around a various number of clients gardens, I find that trying to maintain the grass at this time of year is rather daunting. Yes, there are those fleeting beautiful clear skies days when the weakening sun still blazes. But even then, it’s well into mid afternoon before the ground’s dry enough to really cut the grass. And on those downpour days? Well, there’s no point even bothering.
The problem is, even if you’re not striving for that bowling green lawn, there’s still quite a lot of work to do at this time of year. Everyone always thinks, ‘yes, we’ll thrown in a lawn. That’ll look nice‘. The only problem is, it looks nice for very few weeks until the real maintenance starts. I’m not a huge fan of lawns myself, and within my own space have opted out completely. I know there comes a time and place where a lawn is needed; you can’t exactly tell the kids to go play football in the veggie patch, or have the dog pooping and peeing in your herbaceous border. And, lawns have become a garden staple, a blank canvas that we place borders around, use as a path, create form and shape out of.
Dewy lawn – © Doug Letterman, Flickr
Lawn’s pretty much need care and attention throughout the year, but if you put in a little extra work during the autumn, you can get things spruced up nicely. Whilst I don’t normally advise cutting grass when it’s wet, sometimes it’s the only option during these dreary months. It’s a toss up; leave grass until the spring at which time it’s so long that you’ll damage it with the first cut, or keep it short even through it’s slightly damp. I tend to sway towards the latter, ignoring slightly dewy days to give lawns a quick trim. If it’s too damp it’ll quickly blunt lawnmower blades meaning you’ll have to use the likes of AMF Services to repair them (though this is good yearly maintenance anyway). The ground can also become too compacted for grass roots to grow. However, a bit of dew is no problem as long as you can stay safe with the ELECTRIC lawnmower. Notice that in caps – please – no fried humans.
So, if you’re getting out into your garden on a dry day it’s time to:
1. Scarify. Put simply, rake your lawn so that the thatch (dead stuff) is pulled out of the grass. This clears the ground of old material and though it doesn’t look very nice initially, grass will return strongly in the spring.
2. Aerate. This is particularly useful where you’ve got damp gardens and a lot of moss. You can aerate using a simple fork, drilling holes into the ground every foot or so. It allows more air and drainage, helping grass to grow and moss to shrivel.
3. Mow. Keep mowing until the grass stops…I usually find it’s still going until almost the week before Christmas. If it’s been wet, don’t do it. But if there are a few dry days, get out in the afternoon when the dew’s been burnt off and keep the lawn trim.
4. Weed and Feed. A weed and feed product is a good idea to use at this time of year but be warned. If your lawn has A LOT of weeds, don’t use it. I’ve had clients’ use treatments when their lawn is a mix of 40% grass to 60% moss, dandelions, clover etc. You end up with an awful looking lawn full of holes. It’s better to a) turn a blind eye to the weeds altogether or b) have new turf laid.
5. Rake. It’s also a good idea to rake the leaves, however tiresome that might seem. Throw them onto borders, put them in bags and create leaf mould or tip them on the compost. If you leave them on the lawn they’ll decay, worms will pull them into the earth and they’ll promote the growth of weeds where they’ve rotted.
3 Responses to Autumn lawn care that MUST be done
Warning: Use of undefined constant powered_by - assumed 'powered_by' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /home/thegui11/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wp-followme/followme.php on line 58
Warning: Use of undefined constant powered_by - assumed 'powered_by' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /home/thegui11/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wp-followme/followme.php on line 58
Warning: Use of undefined constant powered_by - assumed 'powered_by' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /home/thegui11/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wp-followme/followme.php on line 58
Warning: Use of undefined constant powered_by - assumed 'powered_by' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /home/thegui11/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wp-followme/followme.php on line 58
Warning: Use of undefined constant powered_by - assumed 'powered_by' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /home/thegui11/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wp-followme/followme.php on line 58
Warning: Use of undefined constant powered_by - assumed 'powered_by' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /home/thegui11/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wp-followme/followme.php on line 58
Warning: Use of undefined constant powered_by - assumed 'powered_by' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /home/thegui11/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wp-followme/followme.php on line 58
Warning: Use of undefined constant powered_by - assumed 'powered_by' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /home/thegui11/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wp-followme/followme.php on line 58
Warning: Use of undefined constant powered_by - assumed 'powered_by' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /home/thegui11/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wp-followme/followme.php on line 58
Warning: Use of undefined constant powered_by - assumed 'powered_by' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /home/thegui11/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wp-followme/followme.php on line 58
Warning: Use of undefined constant powered_by - assumed 'powered_by' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /home/thegui11/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wp-followme/followme.php on line 58
Warning: Use of undefined constant powered_by - assumed 'powered_by' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /home/thegui11/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wp-followme/followme.php on line 58
Warning: Use of undefined constant powered_by - assumed 'powered_by' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /home/thegui11/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wp-followme/followme.php on line 58
Warning: Use of undefined constant powered_by - assumed 'powered_by' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /home/thegui11/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wp-followme/followme.php on line 58
Warning: Use of undefined constant powered_by - assumed 'powered_by' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /home/thegui11/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wp-followme/followme.php on line 58
Warning: Use of undefined constant powered_by - assumed 'powered_by' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /home/thegui11/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wp-followme/followme.php on line 58
Warning: Use of undefined constant powered_by - assumed 'powered_by' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /home/thegui11/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wp-followme/followme.php on line 58
Warning: Use of undefined constant powered_by - assumed 'powered_by' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /home/thegui11/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wp-followme/followme.php on line 58
Warning: Use of undefined constant powered_by - assumed 'powered_by' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /home/thegui11/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wp-followme/followme.php on line 58
Warning: Use of undefined constant powered_by - assumed 'powered_by' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /home/thegui11/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wp-followme/followme.php on line 58
Leave a Reply