Your Autumn Checklist

Autumn is like Spring, that being a transition period between extreme temperatures from hot to cold or cold to hot. So with autumn being the hot to cold transition your garden can start to change visually, mainly by a change in colour but as autumn continues and leaves fall to the ground and we can be left with a not so pleasing view. But just like spring, autumn can be a great time before it gets to cold outside to keep you lawn and garden healthy so when winter hits your lawn and garden come spring time will seem to leap out of a cold and dormant winter and into life. so with this all said here is your Autumn checklist.

1. RAKE THOSE LEAVES UP

If like a lot of people you have a deciduous type tree in your yard basically meaning a tree that will drop all its leaves for winter and go dormant leaving you with what looks like a dead tree, so if you are wanting to help your lawn out when spring hits those leaves have got to go. what the result can be if leaves are left on the grass is big bare patches in your lawn in spring were disease and in some cases moss will thrive, where the ground is compacted by the weight of wet leaves, which results in nutrients sitting on the surface making a great environment for moss to grow well and invade your lawn.

2. CUT THOSE DEAD BRANCHES OFF

When those leaves have all fallen off or your still looking at that dead branch that's been there for years now is a great time to get them cut off and improve the look of your trees and help your deciduous trees thrive in spring.

3. DON'T STOP MOWING

Now depending on the lawn type you have and what state your lawn is in will depend on how you mow through the colder months, if your lawn is mainly a couch type grass keeping your cut to a height that just takes care of the winter weeds is much more beneficial to your couch lawn type then mowing it to the same height as spring/summer because of the slow rate of growth when the temperature drops.

4. FEED YOUR LAWN

So first things first knowing your soil quality will help you determine whether you need to fertilise your lawn to help it through winter or not. But feeding your lawn at this time of year will mean when it starts warming up your lawn will dominate those winter weeds much quicker which can mean your lawn will finally spread into that area that's always been bare or get thick and lush so next autumn/winter those winter weeds wont ruin your lawn.

5. GREAT TIME TO MULCH

Mulching your garden in autumn has many advantages and will reduce the maintenance year round and improve your garden beds soil quality as it breaks down not to mention drastically reducing the weeds.