During September you start to notice the nights beginning to draw in which always means less time to spend working, entertaining or just relaxing outdoors!  That said though it’s still a good time to be doing jobs outside.  It can also be a time for gales, so be prepared: ensure your plants, shrubs and trees are staked properly to avoid them getting damaged.

This is a great time to take cuttings from tender plants like fuchsias, harvest your fruit and veg, and go on, sprinkle a little TLC on your lawn!!  September is often considered ‘lawn care month’, a time when we reinvigorate them for next year by removing thatch, aerating and applying a top dressing.  So, for those of you doing this for the first time here’s a quick guide how to do just that and have a fabulous lawn next year!

Removing Thatch

Thatch is basically moss and dead grass and by removing it, it increases air movement and drainage around your lawn which in turn helps to discourage the re-growth of moss.  You can remove it either by using a rake or a powered scarifier.  If you use a rake, beware it is hard work and pretty tough on your back.  Be warned though, your lawn will look pretty awful after doing this but it won’t take long to recover!

Aerate

Your lawn needs to breathe and the more we walk on our lawns the more compacted it will become.  All you need to do is push your garden fork into the ground about 6-7 inches deep and about 9 inches apart.  This isn’t too bad a job (albeit a bit boring!) but if you have a big lawn you may want to consider hiring a machine to do this for you.

Top Dress

This job needs to be done as soon as you have aerated the lawn i.e. while the holes are still open.  A tried and tested recipe is: three parts of sieved garden soil mixed with two parts of sharp sand and one part of garden compost.

Now sprinkle half - to a full inch of the mix onto the lawn and using a stiff brush or a broom spread it all over.  This is to renew the upper soil layer.  Again beware; your lawn will look really awful for a few weeks but the grass does grow though the soil again and will thank you for the TLC!  Trust us!!