You’ve sat on it, played games on it, cut it back every time it has tried to grow. There’s been summer drought to battle with and then torrential rain stopped it growing, started it up again, and generally gave it a bit of a beating.
Now you can, of course, just ignore your lawn and let it get on with life, but my five-point plan will make sure that it is better equipped to give its all again next year, if you take time to put matters right over the next few weeks.
When the weather cools down and rains once more, encouraging grass growth, go over the lawn with the mower, cutting it no lower than an inch. That’s step number one. Next, hire a powered lawn raker. (You can do the job with a wire-toothed rake if you like – it will improve it no end – but a powered lawn raker is every bit as efficient and easier on the body.)
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Go over the lawn pushing the rake to and fro, rather like vacuuming a carpet. Check the setting first to make sure it is not too low, or you’ll end up pulling out more than you bargained for. The aim is to rip out dead grass (thatch) and moss, leaving the living grass more space to grow. The lawn will look a bit of a sight when you’ve finished the job, but you’ll be doing it the power of good in the long run.
Step number three is to spike the entire area. You can do this with a garden fork, stabbing it into a depth of 4in every 6in or so across the lawn and wiggling it about. Alternatively, you can hire a lawn aerator, which will remove small cores of soil that can then be brushed or raked off.
For step four, sweep sharp sand into the crevices the aerator has created if you garden on badly drained heavy soil, or John Innes No.2 potting compost if your garden soil is sandy and prone to dry out.
Step number five is to apply an autumn lawn feed. As an organic gardener I like to use blood, bone and fishmeal, but proprietary lawn feeds designed for autumn use are also available. (Avoid feeds designed for spring use since the high levels of nitrogen they contain will encourage excessive sappy growth, which is undesirable in autumn.)
With your autumn lawn-care programme completed, you can rest assured that by next spring your patch will be fighting fit and a brilliant complement to the house.
Do it every autumn and your lawn will be the envy of your neighbours and a credit to your handiwork.
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