September is a vulnerable month for lawns as they are still healing from summer and the rainy weather at this time of year can create the perfect conditions for moss and disease. Grass needs all the help it can get to become more resilient before the cold sets in, and there is a really simple way to help a lawn stay healthy.
Joe, an expert from Joe’s Lawncare has share one of the most important gardening jobs at the moment is to keep any fallen leaves from trees off your lawn throughout autumn. He said: “Raking up any fallen leaves will actually help your grass grow. That’s because a thick layer of leaves covering your grass will deprive it of some essential stuff, like sunlight, which grass needs to thrive and survive, especially given cool-season grass types are most active in autumn, which is when they ‘make hay’ and strengthen their roots.”
Leaves can quickly create a thick layer of decaying matter on your lawn, which blocks the sun and stops grass from being able to photosynthesis, so it will not have enough energy by the time winter arrives.
This will cause grass roots to weaken or even die as they are not strong enough to withstand the cold, so you will likely have to deal with a thin patchy lawn next year.
However, the biggest reason you need to keep on top of autumn leaves is that they are known to trap moisture, which will encourage mould, moss, and fungal diseases like red thread or leaf spot.
Leaves are also warm which makes them a excellent place for mice and rats to nest, so it is important to not them piling up if you want to keep rodents out of your garden.
It is fine if you have a couple of leaves scattered about, as this will not harm a lawn, but neglecting to pick them up so they mat together and cause a significant amount of damage.
Now in September it is crucial to be taking the time to rake up any leaves you see as this is when disease is more likely to take hold of a lawn.
Joe said: “We recommend raking up your fallen leaves at least once a week until the first frost settles, while they’re still dry. Not only will this make it easier for you to complete the mission, it will also prevent diseases from having a chance to do their thing.”
Once you have collected leaves then they are fine to use as a compost, especially for plants like hydrangeas, as long as they are chopped up so they cannot clump together.
All you need to do is run the leaves other with a lawn mother until they are finely shred, and then scatter them on the soil around plants in a very thin layer.
Cut-up leaves can even be used to feed your lawn, but they need to be composted first so they break down easily and quickly, adding nutrients that help keep the grass healthy in autumn.