With November Not Far Away, many people will consider that the year’s work on their lawn has been done and there is not much to do over the coming months, except perhaps work on any drainage issues that could allow it to become waterlogged.
However, that is not quite the case. It’s true that there will be frosts to come and perhaps snow as well, but there may be a bit more work required to finish off the autumn maintenance, especially if you have not done much with it by the end of October.
Early November should be the time for the very final mow of the year. This should not take much grass off, as you need the leaf to be of a certain length to maximise the potential to photosynthesise under the enervated winter sunlight.
Autumn is a good time to sow grass seed because with the leaves falling off the trees, more sunlight reaches the lawn. Therefore if re-seeding is needed you should do this before the end of October if possible, rather than waiting until November, as the optimal temperature is eight to ten degrees C, so normal temperatures will be colder than this later on.
Other good reasons autumn is ideal for seeding is there is plenty of rain, so they won’t dry out, and fewer birds around to eat the seeds as many of them will be migrating south.
At the same time, it is important to clear any leaves off the lawn to avoid these blocking sunlight, with the accumulated leaf mould being compostable. Put it in an appropriate container to break down as next year’s fertiliser.
You don’t need to use all your grass seed in autumn, however. If you have more, you can save it for spring to add a more lush and verdant look, although new blooms elsewhere in the garden may create areas that are in shade in a way they are not in autumn. Therefore, it is important to note where these are and pick your seeding times accordingly.
