Page 58 • The HERALD • 8th October 2026 v THE NEXT HERALD IS OUT ON 29TH OCTOBER v DOWN THE GARDEN PATH For all your garden clearance and fencing needs Please call 07515 749731 for your free no obligation quote All Aspects of Garden Work Undertaken • Driveways • Paving • Artificial Grass • Turfing • Decking • Fencing • Hedge Cutting • Landscaping Hythe Garden Contractors Family company established 1977 For a free quotation please call 023 8084 3556 or 07920 794587 Licence number: CBDL41292 As the nights draw in and the garden takes a breather, autumn is the most important season on the calendar if you want a show-stopping lawn next spring. Summer’s heat and the heavy footfall from the school holidays can leave turf looking a little worse for wear, but a little seasonal TLC now will pay dividends when the weather warms up again. At British Garden Centres, we know that a lush, green carpet doesn’t happen by accident, so the team has put together a guide to get your lawn primed, protected, and ready for the colder months ahead. Adjust your mowing routine Grass growth naturally slows as temperatures drop and days shorten, meaning you can give the mower a bit of a rest. Raise your cutting height to at least an inch, so the blades can retain more moisture and withstand the chill. Aim to mow no more than once a fortnight unless there is an unusually mild spell. Always clear away fallen autumn leaves before you mow. If le to sit on the turf, damp leaves quickly rot down, smother the grass, block out precious light, and invite lawn diseases. Tackle moss and weeds now If moss and weeds have started encroaching over summer, they need to be brought under control before you start any intensive maintenance. Unwanted weeds and moss do more than just ruin the look of your lawn as they aggressively steal vital light, water, space, and nutrients from your grass roots. If you can remove them by hand, that’s great. If not, once any treatments have had time to work their magic, you can move on to the next step. Scarify your lawn Over time, a dense layer of dead moss and organic matter, like thatch, builds up at the base of your turf, blocking water and fertiliser from reaching the roots. Give the lawn a thorough raking, known as scarifying, which will li out this dead material and keep grass and clover runners under control. Doing this now ensures that air and moisture can get right down to where they are needed most, while preparing a clean bed for overseeding. Aerate and repair worn patches A er the drought and lack of rain this summer, heavy foot tra c and garden furniture can severely compact soil over the summer, leading to poor drainage and weak grass. Push a garden fork into the soil at regular intervals to perforate the surface, letting air, water, and nutrients penetrate deeply to the roots. For uneven ground, lumps, or bumps, use an edging iron or spade to slice beneath the turf carefully, roll it back, and level the soil underneath before pressing it back down. Where the lawn has worn thin or patchy, autumn’s warm and hopefully wetter soil and frequent rain make it the ideal time for overseeding. Sowing fresh seed thickens the turf, crowds out weeds, and restores a uniform, healthy green nish. EXPERT TIPS FOR GETTING YOUR LAWN WINTER-READY THIS AUTUMN Advice from British Garden Centres Get your lawn winter-ready this autumn
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