August 10th, 2023 by Shauna Hammond

Summer is almost at a close and autumn is hot on its heels, which means we will begin to see the temperature drop, the amount of rainfall increase and our garden will start to change colour. It may seem like autumn is the perfect time to take some respite from garden chores, but it’s actually the perfect time to get your garden ready to face the trials of winter! In this blog, we will look at how you can make the most of the autumn season to keep your garden looking its best.

Use the Right Lawn Feeds

Our lawns and plants need three main nutrients in order to stay strong and flourish these are Nitrogen, Phosphate and Potassium - these will usually appear as NPK on the label. However, the amount of each nutrient that your yard will need during each season changes, this is why it is important that you adjust the products you use throughout the year to ensure your garden gets the correct nutrients.

During the summer months, more Nitrogen is required while as the weather begins to cool down your lawn and plants will require more Phosphate and Potassium. That is because these minerals encourage root growth and strength allowing your garden to combat lawn disease and frost better. So, when selecting the correct lawn feed for the changing season you need to check for not that with a higher ratio of ‘P’ and ‘K’. The Pro-Kleen Autumn lawn feed is an excellent choice as it will encourage growth, and strengthen your lawn allowing it to better withstand the effects of winter.

Pro-Kleen Autumn Green Lawn Feed 2.5kg

Price: £14.95

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Mowing Is Still Important

It can be tricky to find time to mow your lawn in the autumn due to the damp weather conditions and many of us neglect to do so until springtime when the weather begins to warm up. However, if you want to ensure your lawn stays in the best condition possible then you should be sure to keep up with your mowing even during autumn. You should continue to mow your lawn, as leaving it to grow for long periods of time can create a smothering effect, this will make it more difficult for your lawn to get all the necessary nutrients it needs.

While mowing your lawn during autumn, we recommend leaving it a little bit longer than you would during the spring and summer, as a little extra growth can actually provide additional protection against frost.

Over-seeding

While we often associate planting and seeding with spring, autumn is actually a great time o over-seed too. The weather is cooler but not too cold and there is plenty of moisture in the air it’s likely that your garden will see less footfall so the seeds will have the perfect environment to germinate without disturbance, this presents the ideal opportunity to cover and sparse or patchy areas that may have appeared during the summer so that when spring comes back around you have a thick, full lawn. Before over-seeding you should also take the time to remove any moss and scarify the area. You should also use a lawn feed designed to help encourage strong growth – as mentioned above this will be a lawn feed which has a high ratio of Phosphate and Potassium.

Pro-Kleen Pre Lawn and Seed Starter Lawn Fertiliser for New Lawns 2.5kg

Price: £14.95

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Use Fallen Leaves to Your Benefits

Autumn time means an abundance of fallen leaves, especially for those who live in the countryside or have a garden surrounded by trees. Gather all your leaves can be a time-consuming and back-breaking chore however, it is important that you do not leave these fallen leaves to rot on your lawn this is because it can not only create a barrier between your lawn and plants and the reduced amount of sunlight available during the cooler months, but rotting leaves can also make your lawn more susceptible to disease such as mould. However, the good news is that there are plenty of ways you can use these fallen leaves to benefit your garden!

Mulch

Shred leaves and pad them on the top of the soil in plant beds to create a layer of organic mulch. This will help improve water retention, keep weeds at bay, prevent soil from moving during heavy rainfall and also help to regulate temperature! Providing an extra layer of protection for the winter months. Since it is an organic mulch then this will also add extra nutrients once they begin to decompose.

Compost

Fallen leaves are also a great addition to compost piles as they are a great brown material that is rich in nutrients. The great thing about fallen leaves is that you can dry them out and store them somewhere warm and dry then you will have a source of brown material to top up your compost in the spring and summer when it is harder to find brown materials for your compost.

Wildlife Habitat

Finally, if you would like to create a more wildlife-friendly garden for the cooler period then creating a small designated area made of fallen leaves will provide a home for amphibians such as frogs who like to make a bed in piles of leaves while hibernating over winter. It will also supply little critters like hedgehogs and mice with materials they need to make their home for the winter too!

Pro-Kleen 3 in 1 Leaf Blower, Vacuum

Price: £59.99

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Some other Tips to Keep in Mind

Here are a few other autumn care tips to keep in mind:

Weeding

While the growth of most plants including weeds will slow down during the autumn and winter period, they are not completely stunted so remember to check for weeds and remove them as soon as possible to stop them from spreading as the damp conditions can create the perfect environment for the seeds to germinate.

Avoid Walking on Grass

Once the cooler weather arrives and we start to see more rainfall it is a good time to restrict the amount of footfall on the grass as walking along the wet grass and soil can cause it to become compacted, which will make it much harder for the soil to absorb and adequate amount of moisture and can also cause poor drainage which can cause the grass to become water-logged.

So, there we have Pro-Kleen’s tip to keep your garden looking its best and to protect it ready for the cold winter weather. It’s important to remember that your garden has different needs during the different seasons so be sure to adjust your care routine accordingly!