It’s an essential autumn task that will help to revive your grass after summer
The gardening guru has issued advise ahead of the winter(Image: Getty Images)
UK households with gardens are being urged to carry out one key lawn maintenance job this October.
Monty Don, who is best known as the lead presenter of the BBC gardening series Gardeners’ World, has issued some advice to help people revive their grass after summer.
The warmer months can be tough on lawns, but with more rain and less footfall, autumn is the ideal time to give your lawn some TLC.
Giving your lawn a bit of attention in autumn will get it back into good shape before winter sets in, and the biggest tip is to give it an autumn lawn feed to revive the grass this October.
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“Most lawns don’t need feeding and will recover perfectly well on their own after summer. However, if you think your lawn needs a boost you can apply an autumn lawn feed,” advises Monty Don.
“Autumn lawn feeds are rich in potassium and phosphates so encourage root growth and overall vigour rather than leafy growth.
“Putting on root growth means the grass will be able to absorb more nutrients and water come the following spring, which will result in more leafy growth when you need it.
“Bear in mind that the production of synthetic fertilisers uses a lot of resources and energy and may harm the environment where they are manufactured.”
Apply an autumn lawn feed to your grass this October(Image: Getty Images)
The gardening guru continues: “The best autumn lawn feeds are therefore organic feeds and mulches, which work in harmony with existing soil microbes and fauna and help to create a long lasting and sustainable healthy lawn.
“Organic autumn lawn feeds include feed made using seaweed and other plant-based fertilisers, as well as home-made, sieved compost and leafmould, which you simply brush into the lawn so it’s applied evenly over the surface and doesn’t block light from the blades of grass.
“Animal-derived fertilisers are also considered organic, despite not necessarily having come from organic farms.
“These may contain fish, blood and bonemeal or hornmeal, and may also contain traces of synthetic hormones and antibiotics, depending on the conditions in which the animals were raised.
“Pelleted chicken manure is also considered organic and is high in potassium. However, the chickens may have been raised in factory farms and, again, may have been exposed to synthetic hormones and antibiotics.”
Giving advice on when to use autumn lawn feed, Monty suggests: “Apply autumn lawn feeds just before rain is forecast, at the rate specified on the packet – usually about a handful per square metre.
“Scatter it as evenly as possible, or use a lawn-feed spreader with a trough, calibrated to the correct application rate. If it doesn’t rain within a day or so, water it in.”
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