Autumn is a good time to prepare your lawn for the year ahead, and the best time to tackle any long-term improvements. Tasks such as raking out lawn debris, eradicating moss, feeding, and aerating will improve the quality of your lawn greatly if carried out on a yearly basis.
Under some conditions, grass clippings and debris can form a thick “thatch” on the surface of your lawn. This affects growth of the grass and should be removed with a lawn rake. Raking also removes moss. Rake leaves as well, as they fall. While leaves can make a nice winter mulch around plants, they aren’t good for the lawn.
If grass growth is poor, aerate the lawn. You can do this by pushing the prongs of a fork about 15 cm (6 in) into the ground. Brush a soil improver into the holes made by the fork. Use sand or a mixture of fine soil and sand if the ground is poorly drained. Alternatively, use peat, a peat-substitute or very fine, well-rotted compost if the ground is sandy. Reseed as necessary; fall is an excellent time for reseeding.
Apply an autumn lawn feed. It is essential that you use one formulated forautumn use, as spring and summer feeds will contain too much nitrogen. If the grass contains a lot of moss, apply a moss killer. Use one recommended for autumn use; the mixture known as lawn sand, sometimes used to kill moss, contains too much nitrogen.
Check your ph - if lime is necessary, fall is a good time to add it.
You can (and should) tidy an uneven edge whenever it’s necessary, but doing a full job of it in autumn will relieve the pressure at busier times of the year. Hold a half-moon edger against a board held in position with your feet.