How to Choose the Best Autumn Lawn Fertiliser for Your Garden

September 2024

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As autumn rolls in, many homeowners shift their focus from mowing the lawn to preparing it for the colder months ahead. One of the most important steps you can take to maintain a healthy, lush lawn year-round is choosing the right autumn lawn fertiliser. But with so many products on the market, how do you know which one is best suited for your garden? In this blog post, we’ll explore what to look for when selecting an autumn fertiliser for lawns, ensuring your grass stays strong and green even as temperatures drop. 
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Why Autumn Lawn Care is Crucial 🌱

Autumn is a critical time for lawn care because your grass is transitioning from its growing season to its dormant phase. During this period, roots are still actively developing even though the visible growth slows. Applying the right lawn fertiliser in autumn helps nourish the roots, fortify the grass against winter stress, and prepare it for a vibrant comeback in spring. 

What Makes a Good Autumn Lawn Fertiliser? 

Not all fertilisers are created equal, especially when it comes to seasonal needs. Here’s what you should look for in an autumn fertiliser for lawns:

1. Balanced Nutrients for Disease Resistance 

Unlike spring and summer, when nitrogen-heavy fertilisers promote vigorous green growth, autumn fertilisers focus more on disease resistance and hardiness. Look for a blend that prioritises potassium, a key nutrient that strengthen the grass sward and boost your lawn’s resistance to disease and cold weather.

  • Nitrogen (N): Essential for grass growth, but in autumn, you’ll want a lower nitrogen content to prevent rapid top growth that could weaken the grass during the winter. Mowd’s Equinox Fertiliser is slow release to prevent rapid grass growth.
  • Phosphorus (P): Supports root growth. A balanced amount of phosphorus will help your grass develop a strong underground network that can access water and nutrients more efficiently.
  • Potassium (K): Helps improve your lawn’s ability to endure cold weather, resist diseases, and recover from drought or foot traffic. A potassium-rich formula ensures your lawn remains resilient throughout winter. 

A good N-P-K ratio for autumn lawn fertiliser is around 15-1-15, indicating a higher emphasis on potassium.

2. Slow-Release Formula 

Autumn fertilisers should have a slow-release composition, allowing nutrients to break down gradually over time. This ensures your lawn receives consistent nourishment as it continues to grow its root system in preparation for winter dormancy. A slow-release formula reduces the risk of nutrient burn and ensures that nutrients are available when the grass needs them most.  Equinox Spring and Autumn Fertiliser is slow release, as well as many of Mowd’s other fertiliser range. This mean less leaching, no rapid grass growth and a longer, more controlled release of nutrients.  As part of Mowd’s Lawn Care Subscription packages, you’ll receive the next fertiliser, just when you are due to apply it, in exactly the right amount!

3. Added Micro-nutrients

While N-P-K are the primary nutrients, it’s beneficial to choose an autumn fertiliser that contains additional micro-nutrients such as magnesium, calcium and even seaweed. These elements help in maintaining your lawn’s health and colour through the season, preventing that dreaded dullness or yellowing.

  • Calcium helps build a strong plant cell, making it healthy and resilient.
  • Magnesium can help with chlorophyll production, ensuring your lawn gets enough sunlight absorption before the darker, cooler months.
  • Seaweed (such as Mowd’s Sea of Green) has so many benefits, but primarily will create a much more fertilise soil, improve drainage in clay soils, and retain moisture in sandy soils.

4. Consider Organic Fertilisers

For environmentally conscious gardeners, choosing an organic autumn lawn fertiliser can be a great option. Organic fertilisers release nutrients more naturally and improve the overall soil health over time. While these may take longer to show visible results, they offer long-term benefits by enriching the soil structure, increasing beneficial microorganisms, and reducing chemical runoff into the environment.

Timing is Everything 

When applying autumn fertiliser for lawns, timing is key. The best time to fertilise is during the early to mid-autumn months, typically between September and November. The soil should still be warm enough to absorb the nutrients, and the roots will benefit from the boost before the ground freezes.

Don't Forget to Water 

Although autumn brings cooler temperatures and often more rainfall, you still need to water your lawn after applying fertiliser. This helps the nutrients penetrate the soil and reach the roots efficiently. Just be mindful not to over-water, as soggy soil can cause nutrient runoff and waste your efforts.

Preparing Your Lawn for Winter 

In addition to applying the right autumn lawn fertiliser, consider these additional tips to ensure your lawn enters winter in top condition:

  • Aeration: Autumn is a great time to aerate your lawn, especially before fertilising. This helps improve nutrient absorption and reduces soil compaction.
  • Leaf Removal: Regularly clear fallen leaves from your lawn. Excess leaf cover can smother the grass, leading to diseases and bare patches.
  • Overseeding: If your lawn has thin or patchy areas, autumn is also an ideal time for overseeding. Combined with a nutrient-rich fertiliser, new seeds will germinate and establish stronger roots before winter.

The Benefits of a Lawn Care Subscription 

With so many tasks to juggle, keeping up with seasonal lawn care can be overwhelming. That’s where a lawn care subscription service comes in handy. At Mowd Lawn Care Subscriptions (https://www.mowd.uk), we offer bespoke lawn care products delivered straight to your door, tailored to your lawn’s needs. Our subscription ensures you get the right seasonal fertiliser for your lawn, along with expert advice on when and how to apply it, so your grass stays green and healthy all year long.

Conclusion

Choosing the right autumn lawn fertiliser is essential for maintaining a lush, healthy lawn through winter and beyond. Focus on a fertiliser with balanced nutrients that strengthen the roots, opt for slow-release formulas, and consider organic options if sustainability is a priority. By preparing your lawn in autumn, you’ll set the stage for a thriving, green lawn come springtime. And with a lawn care subscription from Mowd, you can ensure your lawn gets the right treatment at the right time, hassle-free.

 

Prepare your lawn today and enjoy a green, healthy garden all year round!

At Mowd Lawn Care Subscriptions (https://www.mowd.uk), we provide the best products and guidance to keep your lawn in perfect condition. Browse our subscription packages to find the perfect solution for your garden!
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