Autumn Lawn Care

Aerate your soil 

During the warmer months, we often spend a lot of time out in the yard entertaining with family and pets. But this heavy traffic can cause compaction.

Autumn is a great time to aerate and loosen up the soil under your lawn. This can be done manually using aeration sandals or a sturdy garden fork. Insert the fork into the lawn to punch holes of about 5 cm depth, spaced around 8–10 cm apart. Soil aeration will not only loosen up compaction but also allow your autumn fertiliser application to penetrate deeper into the root system of your lawn.

Fertilise

Autumn fertiliser application is important in Melbourne because it supplies nutrients to prolong growth and colour retention and maintain good lawn health. Autumn fertilising helps the grass build nutrient reserves, which will be crucial during the dormant period when it is not actively growing. The nutrients in the fertiliser, particularly nitrogen, promote strong root growth, ensuring that the grass remains healthy and capable of withstanding winter stresses such as cold temperatures and limited sunlight. 

Additionally, fertilising in autumn can help the grass recover from any summer damage and encourages dense growth, reducing the chances of weed invasion. By providing the necessary nutrients during this time, you set the stage for a vibrant and resilient lawn in the following spring. Use a slow-release lawn fertiliser about every 8–12 weeks. We recommend Lawn Solutions Premium Fertiliser.

Manage shade

Shade can be a challenge for lawn areas, especially during the cooler months of the year when the sun drops in the sky, limiting the amount of sunshine falling on the lawn. Autumn is a great time to trim back any trees to let more sunlight in. Also, ensure any unneeded furniture or children’s toys are packed away so they don’t further block sunlight from getting to your lawn.

Weed control

Now is the time to get on top of the last of those summer weeds! This can be done by applying the appropriate herbicide or manually removing weeds in autumn before it cools down and the lawn goes dormant. 

During autumn, many weeds are still actively growing and competing with the grass for essential resources like sunlight, water, and nutrients. By implementing effective weed control measures in autumn, such as using a pre-emergent herbicide, you can prevent these invasive plants from spreading and out-competing the grass. Removing weeds before they can disperse their weed seeds in garden beds and under mower blades helps prevent future weed growth and reduces the workload for springtime weed management.

Oxafert pre-emergent fertiliser is the ideal product to apply during Autumn, to give your lawn the last fertilisation before it goes dormant in Winter, and also protect from winter weeds. 

Don’t mow your lawn too short 

It’s important not to mow your lawn too short during the cooler months. This is because a shorter mower height will leave the grass vulnerable and struggling to repair itself from the frostier weather as winter approaches. 

Therefore, it is best to adjust the cutting height to maintain the grass's health, allowing it to withstand winter stressors while maintaining its overall strength and vitality.

For more information about autumn lawn care or seasonal maintenance, contact our friendly team at Lilydale Instant Lawn today.