Starting your autumn lawn maintenance in September and October gives the best results. You’ll be giving your lawn a great chance of staying in good shape through the winter months.
Gardening expert Phil Clayton says "It’s worth spending time on your grassed areas over the next few weeks as the seasons change – autumn is often a little like spring with perfect growing weather, so make the most of it by getting lawns back into good shape.
"You’ll also need to keep on top of fallen leaves when possible."
You can expect a positive outcome if you take care of these tasks in good time.
Planning on installing a new lawn? Head to our guide on how to lay turf instead.
1. Rake your lawn
Sometimes known as scarifying your lawn, raking is all about removing thatch (grass clippings, moss, and other organic material) from the surface.
Debris on the surface of your lawn can act as an obstacle for water that would usually reach the soil below.
Removing thatch lessens the chance of drought, and should help you avoid bare patches on your lawn through summer.
Thatch and moss build-up also limits air circulation within the grass, which can result in fungal infections – another thing you’ll want to avoid.
The process is simple. Use decent force to rake across your lawn, removing thatch without tearing out grass. Go in one direction before doubling back on yourself.
This is pretty demanding with larger lawns. You could buy a lawn scarifier or lawn mower attachment to help – while booking a regular gardening service is another option.
Phil Clayton says "It's a good idea to rake up fallen leaves from lawns later in autumn- a few do no harm, but a thick layer of leaves stops light reaching grass and promotes fungal problems that may damage fine turf. Remember though, fallen leaves can be useful and provide winter homes for some creatures, so sweep them into sheltered borders or add to compost bins."
You can add scarified material to compost heaps and fallen leaves for leaf mould. If you’re not familiar with the process, follow our guide for how to make leaf mould.
2. Aerate the lawn
Aerating (or spiking) your lawn helps to improve air and moisture penetration around grass roots. It is particularly useful where grassed areas are well worn or compacted.
Autumn is a perfect time for this job as the wetter conditions soon allow moisture into the soil; resulting turf will withstand subsequent periods of drought or waterlogging better.
This task is usually done in conjunction with top dressing (see below).

Use a garden fork to spike your lawn, ideally to the full depth of the tines. Move the pitchfork around to increase the size of the holes. If you wait until conditions are frosty or the grass is very wet, you could damage your lawn.
You’re probably thinking this sounds like hard work – and it is. Luckily, most lawns only need this every two or three years. If it still sounds like too much, professional gardeners can handle this aspect of lawn care.
For really heavy soils, a hollow tined aerator is worth using – this removes small plugs of soil to allow air and water to penetrate down.
3. Complete top dressing
After aerating, it’s time for top dressing.
Here, we’ll apply a mix of loam (a fertile type of soil), sand and rotted organic matter to the lawn’s surface and work it into the holes formed by aeration using a broom or the back of a rake.
This process improves drainage, breaks down thatch, and feeds the lawn – so there are plenty of benefits. Top dressing should take place in the early autumn after you’ve raked and aerated the lawn.
When done right, this aids recovery from the difficulties of the summer and helps lawns cope with the upcoming winter. Ready-made mixtures are often available from garden centres.
4. Mow your lawn (but not too much!)
Have you neglected your grass during the summer? If so, now is your chance to give it a final trim and tidy – but you need to be careful with lawn mowing at this time of year.
Since grass growth slows down during the winter, there’s no need to mow over and over again. Just neaten it up with a final cut, and carefully edge and trim any messy bed and lawn edges.
Avoid cutting the grass too short or the lawn will be vulnerable to the cold.
When this happens, weeds and moss can flourish, overpowering the grass (which will be weaker during that time of year).
Phil Clayton says "With milder autumn weather, grass often continues to grow well later into the season. It’s fine to keep cutting it, but adjust your mower’s height setting to allow the turf to remain longer than in summer.
"This will cause far less stress to the lawn once cold weather does finally arrive."
Less formal, meadow-like areas of grass with wildflowers can also be given a final cut now.
5. Feed the lawn
Many lawns recover well after the summer, returning to their rich green before the onset of cold, wintry weather.
If autumn arrives and your lawn is struggling, applying lawn feed is a good call. But make sure to only use autumn lawn feed, or you could do more harm than good.
Autumn lawn feed encourages root growth through winter, which gives your lawn the strength to withstand the cold. Your local garden centres can help you pick out a suitable option.
6. Complete essential lawn repairs
Summer is a tough period for a lot of lawns.
Hot, dry weather, pets, pests, and general foot traffic all take their toll. These can lead to patchy, unkempt lawns that may not recover properly without some remedial repairs.
Luckily, autumn presents the perfect time to get your lawn back into fighting shape. If needed, you can fill out your lawn with grass seed, while autumn is ideal for laying turf too.
This is also the time to root out lawn weeds, moss, and other unwanted trespassers that could cause harm throughout winter.
7. Keep off the grass
Once you’re through with your autumn lawn care, you should give the grass time to settle in for winter.
Keep off the grass – especially if it’s frosty – and only step out to rake up leaves. Letting your grass breathe will give it the best chance of surviving winter unharmed.
8. Plant more wildflowers
Autumn is a great time to convert your lawn into a less formal, pollinator-friendly meadow-like area by naturalising wildflowers, tougher perennials and bulbs.
The mild, moist conditions mean that plug plants should establish readily and many flower bulbs such as daffodils and tulips are ready for planting now.
Phil Clayton says "Converting some of your lawn into a meadow-like area is worth experimenting with as it can be rewarding, providing a more relaxed look and potentially attractign wildlife.
"It requires less mowing, which means a reduced work-load in summer, but in autumn needs attention to ensure you have a good mix of wildflowers and bulbs amid the grass."
Growing stronger, healthier lawns
Lawns get some rough treatment throughout the year, but autumn is a time when you can nurse them back to health.
By following these lawn care tips, you can help your lawn through winter, and then see it thrive the following spring.
The process is demanding – raking, spiking, and mowing are all physical tasks – but the work delivers great results.
If you don’t want the hassle of preparing your lawn yourself, professional services can help. Before you start assessing businesses, take some time to read the latest gardening tips, tricks, and hiring advice. It's the easiest way to make sure you get the right service.
You can find a local expert by posting a free enquiry or browsing top local gardening services today.