October is an important month for lawn care. After a summer of dry weather, mowing, children playing, pets and plenty of time spent outdoors, most lawns will benefit from a little attention before winter arrives.
The cooler, damper conditions of early autumn are particularly useful for lawn maintenance. The soil is often still warm enough for grass to grow and recover, while increased rainfall means you shouldn't need to spend quite so much time reaching for the hose.
So, what should you actually be doing to your lawn in October?
Below, our Events & Retail Manager, Matt Lewis, shares his top tips for looking after your lawn this autumn and getting it ready for the colder months ahead.
Keep Mowing While the Grass is Growing
You don't need to put the lawn mower away just because summer has finished.
Grass will continue to grow while temperatures remain mild, so you may still need to mow throughout October. The difference at this time of year is that growth will begin to slow and you'll probably find yourself mowing less frequently.
It's also a good idea to raise the cutting height slightly.
Matt says: “There isn't really a set date when you should stop mowing. If the grass is still growing and the ground isn't too wet, keep cutting it. Just raise the mower a little and avoid cutting the grass too short going into winter.”
Try to mow when the grass is reasonably dry. Taking a heavy mower across a wet lawn can compact the soil and cause more harm than good.
Scarify to Remove Moss and Thatch
If your lawn feels spongy underfoot or there's a noticeable build-up of moss and dead grass, autumn is a good time to scarify.
Scarifying removes the layer of dead material, known as thatch, which builds up around the base of the grass. Too much thatch can prevent water, air and nutrients from getting down into the soil.
For a small lawn, a spring-tined lawn rake may be all you need. Larger lawns can be tackled with an electric scarifier.
Be prepared for the lawn to look worse before it looks better.
Matt explains: “People are sometimes surprised by how much material comes out when they scarify and how bare the lawn can look afterwards. Don't panic. If there's a lot of moss and thatch in there, removing it gives the grass much more room to recover.”
Avoid scarifying if the ground is waterlogged or if particularly cold weather is forecast. You want the grass to have some growing time left to recover afterwards.
Aerate Compacted Areas
If you only do one or two lawn jobs this autumn, aerating areas that get a lot of foot traffic is well worth considering.
Soil gradually becomes compacted as we walk, play and mow over it. This is particularly noticeable on heavier soils and around regular routes across the garden.
Compaction makes it harder for water, nutrients and oxygen to reach the roots of the grass and can contribute to poor drainage.
You don't necessarily need specialist equipment. Push a garden fork firmly into the ground at regular intervals and gently rock it backwards and forwards to open up the soil.
Pay particular attention to areas that are regularly walked over, places where puddles form and sections of lawn where the grass isn't growing particularly well.
Matt's advice: “If you have areas where water always seems to sit during the winter, start there. Aerating won't solve every drainage problem, but opening up compacted ground can make a real difference.”
For particularly compacted lawns, a hollow-tine aerator can be used to remove small plugs of soil.
Use an Autumn Lawn Feed
Your lawn has different needs in October than it does in spring and summer.
During the main growing season, lawn feeds are often designed to encourage plenty of lush, green growth. As we head towards winter, that's no longer the priority.
Choose a product specifically designed as an autumn lawn feed. These are formulated to help strengthen the lawn and its roots rather than simply encouraging lots of soft new growth.
Matt says: “Check the bag before you use whatever is left in the shed from summer. An autumn lawn feed is designed for this time of year. We're looking to strengthen the lawn before winter rather than encourage lots of fresh top growth.”
Always follow the application rate on the packaging and try to spread lawn feed as evenly as possible.
Keep on Top of Fallen Leaves
It's one of the simplest autumn lawn jobs, but also one of the easiest to put off.
Try not to leave a thick covering of fallen leaves sitting on your lawn for long periods. They block light from reaching the grass and hold moisture around it, which can leave you with yellow or bare patches.
A quick rake every few days is much easier than tackling a thick, wet layer of leaves later in the month.
The leaves don't need to go to waste either. Add them to the compost heap or collect them separately to make leaf mould – a useful soil improver that requires very little effort beyond giving it time to break down.
What Should You Do About Moss in Your Lawn?
Moss becomes much more noticeable in many lawns during autumn, particularly where conditions are damp and shady.
You can remove moss by scarifying or use an appropriate lawn treatment, but it's also worth thinking about why it's there.
Moss tends to thrive where grass struggles. Common reasons include poor drainage, compacted soil, shade and mowing the lawn too closely.
Matt explains: “If moss keeps coming back in the same place every year, it's worth looking beyond the moss itself. You might have compacted soil, too much shade or a drainage problem. Improving the conditions for the grass will usually give you better results in the long run.”
And remember, you don't necessarily need a completely moss-free lawn. In more informal or wildlife-friendly gardens, a little moss is nothing to worry about.
Repair Bare Patches While Conditions Allow
Summer can be tough on lawns. Furniture, paddling pools, pets, children and dry weather can all leave bare or thin areas behind.
October can still provide an opportunity to repair these patches while the soil retains some warmth.
Remove weeds and dead grass, lightly loosen the surface of the soil and sow a suitable grass seed. Rake it in gently so there's good contact between the seed and soil, then keep the area moist while it germinates.
The important thing here is to watch the weather rather than the calendar.
If we're enjoying a mild start to October, grass seed may establish well. As temperatures fall later in the month, germination becomes slower and less reliable. At that point, there's nothing wrong with leaving the job until spring.
Should You Overseed Your Lawn in October?
You can overseed a lawn in October, particularly earlier in the month when soil temperatures are still warm enough for grass seed to germinate.
Overseeding simply means spreading new grass seed across an existing lawn. It's useful for thickening up sparse grass after scarifying or improving lawns that have become thin and tired.
Ideally, do this after scarifying and aerating so the seed has a better chance of making contact with the soil.
If it's already turned particularly cold or wet, however, we'd be inclined to wait. There's little benefit in using grass seed when the conditions aren't right for it to establish.
Can You Scarify a Lawn in October?
Yes. October can be a good time to scarify a lawn in the UK, particularly during the earlier part of the month.
The important consideration is the condition of your lawn and the weather.
Scarify while the grass is still actively growing and avoid doing it immediately before very cold weather. The lawn needs time to recover after you've removed the moss and thatch.
If you've reached late October and conditions have already turned cold and very wet, leave the scarifier in the shed and tackle the job when conditions improve.
Should You Mow Your Lawn in October?
Yes, if it's still growing.
In a mild autumn, you may find yourself mowing well into October and sometimes beyond. Just reduce the frequency of mowing as growth slows and keep the cutting height a little higher than you would during summer.
Avoid mowing waterlogged, frosty or very wet grass.
October Lawn Care Checklist
There's no need to do everything in one weekend. A few simple jobs now can make a noticeable difference to how your lawn copes with winter.
- Continue mowing while the grass is growing
- Raise your mower's cutting height
- Rake up fallen leaves regularly
- Scarify lawns with excessive moss or thatch
- Aerate compacted and poorly drained areas
- Apply an autumn lawn feed if needed
- Repair bare patches while the weather remains mild
- Overseed thin areas if conditions are suitable
- Avoid walking unnecessarily on waterlogged grass
Matt adds: “You don't need your lawn to look perfect going into winter. October is really about getting the basics right – clear the leaves, deal with any compaction or heavy moss and give the grass the best chance of coming through winter in good condition.”
Get Your Lawn Ready for Winter
Spending a little time on your lawn in October can save you work when spring comes around.
Rather than trying to encourage lots of new growth, concentrate on keeping the lawn healthy: remove excessive thatch, improve compacted areas, keep fallen leaves under control and use the right autumn lawn feed if it needs a boost.
And don't worry if your lawn isn't immaculate. Gardens naturally slow down at this time of year, and your lawn will too.
If you're unsure what your lawn needs, bring a photo with you when you next visit us at Old Railway Line Garden Centre. Our team can help with advice on autumn lawn feeds, grass seed, moss treatments, lawn rakes, scarifiers and other lawn care products to help get your grass through winter and ready to grow again next spring.
You'll find us in Three Cocks, between Brecon and Hay-on-Wye, with everything you need to get the garden ready for autumn and winter.