Dead lawns will spring back to life if 4 simple gardening tasks done now

UK gardens struggling with damaged and yellowing grass can bring their dead lawns back to life and revitalise them if gardeners do four simple lawncare tasks now in autumn.

Following an unrelenting summer of blistering heat and scarce rainfall, many gardens across the UK are looking decidedly worse for wear.

Countless gardeners have been left grappling with brown, straw-like lawns, parched cracked soil, and drooping plants – yet early autumn actually offers an ideal opportunity for revival.

Fortunately, there are several straightforward methods to restore life to your struggling garden. With autumn providing the perfect conditions to address brown and yellowing lawns, implementing a handful of simple measures now will set your garden up nicely for both winter and next summer.

James Lewis, gardening experts from MyBuilder.com, explain: “Over the summer our gardens have been put through hell, with the hosepipe bans, hot weather, and lack of rainfall making this summer hard to keep our gardens full of life.

“The key this autumn is to give your garden time, don’t make any rash decisions. It will take time for your garden to regain strength. Some plants may take weeks, while others may take much longer, depending on the plants and how severe the damage is.”

4 jobs to do for lawns in autumn

Rake

The experts at James Lewis advise: “Rake out dead material, such as dead grass roots, stems and debris (thatch) that has built up over summer just below the surface, which will block moisture and nutrients from getting into the roots of grass.”

Deal with compacted areas

Areas subjected to repeated foot traffic will have become compacted, stopping water from penetrating the surface. Gardening specialists recommend using a fork or aerator to spike the ground, creating holes 10-15 cm deep, which will open up the soil and allow water and air to reach it, encouraging your grass to thrive and strengthen, reports the Express.

Reseed

The gardening experts add: “After raking out the lawn thatch, your lawn may look sparse or have bare patches. Adding grass seed and keeping the soil moist while the new grass establishes will create a thicker and greener lawn in just a few weeks.”

Keep mowing

Don’t put the mowers away just yet, the experts advise. Instead, carry on mowing until growth starts to slow.

Aim to raise the mower blades and cut your grass at a higher level to protect the soil and allow grass roots to recover, while letting the shorter clippings fall back onto the lawn, returning vital nutrients to the soil.

Give your garden time

Finally, while it isn’t strictly a gardening task, it’s a vital part of ensuring lawns bounce back – and that’s simply giving your garden adequate time to recuperate.

While achieving lush, green grass is the ambition for most homeowners, patience is absolutely essential when it comes to restoring your lawn this autumn.

The gardening specialists explain: “Your grass needs to regain strength and energy to grow and regain its original colour, so taking hasty long-term steps from the get go isn’t advisable.”

Several other areas green-fingered gardeners can concentrate on include watering sensibly. The gardening experts recommend: “Some water bans are still active, but if they have been lifted in your area, it’s wise to water early in the morning and later in the evening to prevent evaporation. This consistent moisture is key to help your plants recover, but ensure you don’t overwater them, as you can risk drowning them.”

Another method to boost your garden’s overall health involves resisting the temptation to immediately throw out plants showing brown leaves or looking wilted, as they may still bounce back. Instead, the gardening professionals advise being patient and watching for new green shoots before deciding something has perished.

Lastly, experts warn against over-tidying your outdoor area. Gardening experts at James Lewis state: “As counterintuitive as this sounds, giving your garden too much of a tidy can actually sweep away vital material that retains moisture for your lawn.

“Fallen twigs and leaves, for example, act as a natural mulch that traps water in the soil, keeps away harsh sun rays and improves the soil nutrients as it decomposes. Instead of removing every bit of dirt and debris, clear anything that looks like it could cause disease, while retaining enough cover to help protect your garden down the line.”