While it may seem unusual to consider weeding your garden during the autumn months, this is actually the ideal time to manage them in preparation for their full bloom in early spring. Annual weeds often start their lifecycle in late summer and then germinate throughout autumn and winter, ready for spring.
Regular lawn maintenance will help keep grass growing robustly and deter any unwanted plants. Gardening experts at Yell have revealed the common causes of weeds and how to safely control them in your garden.
Yell has consulted Simon Akeroyd, head of estates and landscapes at Painshill Park Trust, to provide the best tips for this autumn.
I’m a gardening expert – here’s what causes an excess of weeds in autumn
Poor drainage
When there’s too much water in the soil, weeds compete with grass for resources and spread rapidly. Prolonged waterlogging will kill off finer grass species and allow the weeds to take over.
In the autumn and winter months, increased rainfall will cause your lawn to become even more waterlogged, providing an ideal environment for weeds to thrive.
Compacted soil
While grass requires a fibrous root system to grow, weeds have a central root system; this means that even in compacted soil, weeds will easily grow and outcompete grass species in your garden. Signs that you have compacted soil include bare or thin spots in your lawn – if left unchecked, these spots can become a prime location for weed growth.
Keep weeds at bay in your garden
Use non-chemical weed control
While it might appear straightforward to purchase weed killer from the shop, these potent chemicals can affect your soil’s quality and harm plants and wildlife in your garden.
There are numerous chemical-free methods you can employ to tackle weeds this autumn, as advised by Simon.
Consistent lawn maintenance, including soil aeration, can help encourage robust roots
Nourishing and aerating your turf are crucial elements in fostering healthy development.
Simon recommended: “One of the most effective ways of improving the quality of the lawn in autumn and part of the autumn lawn care maintenance programme, is to aerate it.”
Aeration means ensuring roots receive sufficient oxygen, which enables them to flourish. This can be accomplished by maintaining well-draining earth, preventing waterlogging, or enhancing soil structure with organic matter for improved airflow.
Lawn aeration specifically means creating small holes in the ground to allow air, water, and nutrients to reach the grass roots.
Simon added: “Aeration helps to relieve compaction, increases drainage, which will reduce moss problems and increases airflow in the soil, which promotes healthier roots system and therefore a better and denser sward of lawn on the surface. You can then brush top dressing into the holes left by the fork to improve the quality of the soil in the rootzone of the lawn.”
Through aerating and scarifying your turf, you promote stronger grass development, making it more difficult for weeds to establish themselves.
Steer clear of cutting the grass too short
Cutting the grass excessively short can weaken the turf and consequently make it more vulnerable to weeds, among other issues. For the healthiest and most sustainable lawn, a cutting height of 3.5 to 4 inches is optimal.
Lawns trimmed at this height are superior at competing against weeds and they retain an appearance equally as appealing as lawns cut at 2.5 inches. It’s also crucial to rake before cutting.
Simon said: “Scarifying is a useful lawn maintenance activity to increase the health of the lawn. I use a spring-tinned rake and pull it across the surface of the lawn. This removes much of the thatch, which is the dead and decaying material at the base of the grass blades. It may look harsh but it really helps improve the lawn quality. You will be amazed at how much thatch is on the surface of the grass. The thatch can impede moisture from getting to the roots and smother out the grass blades, resulting in a mossy-looking lawn. Thatch also prevents air circulation and can retain moisture, causing lawn fungal diseases.”
Replace turf and resow bald spots
It’s vital to resow bald areas of turf during autumn to stop weeds from establishing themselves in spring and summer.
Simon recommended: “While the soil is still warm from summer, it is a good idea to sow grass seed into any bare patches now, as there is still time for it to germinate before winter.”
Grass fertiliser can assist seedlings to establish roots more rapidly and deeply and will help prevent weeds from emerging. Simon explained: “Simply scratch the surface of the soil with a rake and scatter the grass seed over the top. You can then lightly rake the seed into the soil. I usually apply grass seed at a rate of one handful per square metre.”
Use limes to help manage PH levels of soil
Adding lime will help to balance the PH of the soil and make it a less hospitable place for weeds to take hold, as weeds prefer acidic soil. Apply in the winter months, scattering evenly, at around 50 grams per square metre. Lime can help grass outcompete weeds by making the soil more conducive to grass growth.