Autumn Lawn Care

Leaves are falling, Autumn is calling!

Just like spring, autumn is a very important time of year for lawns. Everything you do now will set up your lawn for the next few months which gives it the best chance to stay healthy throughout winter.

Lawn care really is a year round endeavour, but it doesn’t have to be difficult! Follow along in the Autumn Lawn Care video series to find out everything you need to know about weeds, products and winter dormancy!

There’s a few things you can do in autumn that your lawn will benefit from all the way through until spring. Weeding, fertilising and reducing shade are priorities on our autumn lawn care list, but pest and fungus prevention will save you a lot of work in the future too!

Watering in Autumn

Through the autumn months your lawn will require less water than in summer. Once the weather starts to cool, you can start to back off your watering to only when your lawn needs it. Lawns are very responsive and will let you know if it needs a drink with a few tell-tale signs such as wilting, thinning or losing colour.

It is best to water in the mornings at this time of year, as watering in the evening can promote fungus growth when the lawn stays damp overnight. It is also best not to mow damp lawn as this will spread any disease.

Fertilising in Autumn

In autumn the days get cooler and shorter, but there is still plenty of warmth in the soil which means that your lawn is still actively growing. This makes autumn the perfect time to fertilise, encouraging strong root development, winter colour and overall health and vigour.

Depending on where you live, aim to take action in March or April. The cooler your region the earlier you should act. We recommend an application of a slow release granular fertiliser such as Lawn Solutions Premium Fertiliser, which will gradually release nutrients into your lawn over a period of up to 12 weeks.

Mowing in Autumn

It’s best to keep the lawn slightly longer throughout these cooler months so it’s better equipped for photosynthesis and weed suppression. To maintain the longer length, you’ll need to mow less frequently, which makes autumn the ideal time to maintain your mower.

Sharpen the blades, replace the spark plugs, use clean fuel and make sure all the parts are in good working order. Mowing too low in autumn and winter weakens the lawn, making it susceptible to weeds, pests and disease.

Prepare for the weeds!

A constant battle for your lawn is the pesky weeds which can take hold over the cooler months. Autumn is the perfect time for an application of a weed pre-emergent such as Oxafert. Forming a weed-blasting barrier at soil level, Oxafert will inhibit the germination of weed seedlings so they never get the opportunity to pop up in your lawn!
Note: Oxafert will not kill established weeds that you can see, it’s a preventative to stop them! A selective herbicide will sort out weeds that have already appeared in your lawn.

Reducing Shade

Raking up leaves and trimming large trees and bushes regularly will help your lawn to absorb as much sunlight as possible through the cooler months. This will keep it active for longer and give it the best chance to thrive further into winter.

We highly recommend battery powered tools if you need a new chainsaw, blower or trimmer to make your autumn lawn care easy!

Treat Fungus and Disease

This is the time of year that fungus can silently do damage to your lawn without you knowing, only to see the result in spring with dead and damaged spots. It is a good time to use a fungicide to prevent the fungus growth explosion.

If you had issues with fungus or disease last spring, it is a good time for a treatment. It is best to treat your lawn at least two to three times, one month apart to ensure a good protection.

Watch out for pests!

One particularly annoying pest that is active during autumn is the lawn grub. They can cause serious damage to your lawn and quickly, so it’s a good idea to keep and eye out for these pests and get onto them as soon as you can with a grub control. We recommend Lawn Solutions Grub Guard as a treatment if you have found bugs.

An acelepryn-powered product such as Grub Guard Ultimate applied in March and September will give you year round control of re-infestation of grubs and other pests.

If you have any questions or concerns about your lawn please give us a call or email at

The Turf Farm office and we can help you achieve a lawn you will love!

Our favourite products for Autumn!

Lawn Solutions Premium Fertiliser

Supercharge your Sir Walter DNA Certified with this premium lawn food. Fast and slow release granules packed with essential nutrients and trace elements encourage strong growth and rich colour.

Oxafert

A weed pre-emergent to tackle a range of annual grasses and broad leaf weeds before they become a problem. Apply seasonally for year round protection.