Autumn Lawn Care
Well, it’s that time of year again! The days are getting shorter, the temperature is getting colder, and the deciduous leaves are starting to put on their vibrant colour show.
Autumn is a great time to be in the garden. In particular, you should look at getting your lawn ready for the cooler months. Make the most of those last rays of sunshine as you follow these simple tips to get your lawn winter ready.
Aerating
During the warmer months we often spend a lot of time out in the yard entertaining and spending time with family and pets. But this heavy traffic can cause compaction.
Autumn is a great time to aerate and loosen up the soil under your lawn. This can be done manually using aeration sandals or a sturdy garden fork. Insert the fork into the lawn to punch holes of about 5 cm depth, spaced around 8–10 cm apart. Aeration will not only loosen up compaction but also allow your autumn fertiliser application to penetrate deeper into the root system of your lawn.
Fertilise
Autumn fertiliser application is important in Melbourne because it supplies the necessary nutrients to prolong growth and colour retention and maintain good lawn health. Use a slow-release lawn fertiliser about every 8–12 weeks. We recommend Lawn Solutions Fertiliser.
Manage Shade
Shade can be a challenge for lawn areas, especially during the cooler months of the year when the sun drops in the sky, limiting the amount of sunshine falling on the lawn. Autumn is a great time to trim back any trees to let more sunlight in. Also ensure any unneeded furniture or children’s toys are packed away so that they don’t further block sunlight from getting to your lawn.
Weed Control
Now is the time to get on top of the last of those summer weeds! This can be done by applying the appropriate herbicide or manually removing weeds in autumn, before it cools down and the lawn goes dormant. To learn more about how to control specific weeds, visit our weed control blog.