Fertilising your lawn in autumn or winter with an autumn lawn feed will improve the health and appearance of your grass and will strengthen it for the coming winter months. It will also ensure that your lawn is fed the nutrients needed to stay healthy and help it resist winter grass diseases.
Why should I fertilise my lawn in Autumn / Winter?
Using an autumn fertiliser in autumn / winter will ensure your lawn is kept strong and dense and able to cope with and recover well from difficult conditions such as drought, cold snaps or heavy traffic. Lawns that have been fed with an autumn lawn feed are also tougher and more resilient to moss, weeds and winter grass diseases.
An autumn fertiliser encourages the growth of roots and strengthens the lawn
Many people wonder what is lawn fertiliser and what exactly is in it. The answer is that lawn fertiliser contains nutrients to help your grass grow better, and most lawn fertilisers will contain nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus, identified as NPK on the label. They can also contain other trace element nutrients that can be beneficial for lawns. Autumn and winter lawn fertilisers contain more phosphate and potassium to encourage the growth of roots and strengthen the lawn.
Applying pre-seed fertiliser for a new lawn in Autumn
If you’re gearing up to sow a new lawn during the autumn season, we highly recommend considering our QUICK RELEASE: Pre-Seed fertiliser. This specialised blend provides your soil and nascent grass with essential nutrients, fostering rapid germination and robust establishment. To optimise results, apply this fertiliser before seeding your grass, ensuring even coverage. Follow up with thorough watering until the granules dissolve completely. This nutrient boost will sustain your lawn’s growth over the next six weeks as it takes root.
Fertilising an established lawn in Autumn
Once your grass has firmly established itself, typically within 6-8 weeks or when the blades reach a length of 5-7cm, it’s time for the next step. As winter approaches, consider using our SLOW RELEASE: Autumn / Winter fertiliser. This formulation provides your lawn with essential nourishment over the next four months, preventing it from going hungry during its winter hibernation. By spring, your lawn will recover quickly from the cold of winter and grow well as the weather perks up!
For those who prefer liquid fertilisers or desire a quick nutrient infusion for their grass, our Make it Strong liquid lawn feed is the ideal choice. This fast-acting autumn/winter liquid food ensures your lawn retains vital nutrients while warding off unwanted diseases throughout the winter season.
Our Quick and Slow Release Fertilisers for Autumn / Winter
QUICK RELEASE: Autumn/Winter Fertiliser is designed for root strength over the cold winter months. The compound levels are NPK 3.12.12. It is low nitrogen fertiliser with high phosphate and potassium to strengthen the roots and stiffen the leaf blades.
This will protect your grass from severe weather conditions during the Winter. And will result in a healthier lawn once growth begins the following spring.
SLOW RELEASE: Autumn/Winter Fertiliser compound levels are 8.0.6 of N.P.K. It is a late-season fertiliser with low nitrogen but high levels of potassium and magnesium. It's designed to feed all grassed areas just enough to aid late-season growth without causing gluts of growth of lush grass that will be susceptible to frosts and disease as the days get shorter.
Make It Strong Liquid Fertiliser is a fast-acting lawn-feeding solution that locks in nutrients and blocks out unwelcome lawn diseases during the cold winter months. It gets to work instantly once applied, and its N.P.K. compound levels of 3.6.6. give your grass a powerful boost of nutrients which help keep your lawn in top shape over the winter.
The potassium and magnesium strengthen grass roots and leaves - giving protection throughout the winter and helping it build resilience to make it through to spring.
Feeding an existing lawn with Autumn fertiliser
If your lawn is already in excellent shape and you’re looking to maintain its health, opt for our SLOW RELEASE: Autumn / Winter fertiliser. This slow-release formula safeguards your lawn against frost, snow, and common winter diseases that can arise during this period.
Timing your autumn lawn feeding
After mowing your lawn, apply the fertiliser at a rate of 35g per m2 and water it in. For optimal results, apply this fertiliser between September and early October to enjoy its four-month-long benefits. If you find yourself applying lawn food later in the season, consider our QUICK RELEASE: Autumn / Winter fertiliser. This fast-acting alternative provides a steady nutrient supply over six weeks, safeguarding your lawn from frost damage and disease. You can even apply it twice during the autumn/winter period if needed.
Addressing Weeds and Moss
Should weeds or moss plague your lawn, our Feed, Weed, and Moss Killer is the solution. We recommend applying it in early September, as it takes two weeks to eradicate weeds and moss while fortifying your grass’s lush greenness.
Keep an eye out for bare patches in the weeks following treatment. Areas previously infested with moss and weeds may require reseeding. It’s best to tackle this task early in autumn, allowing ample time for reseeded areas to flourish.
Do I need to use a special Autumn fertiliser?
It is important to note that spring/summer fertilisers should never be used in the autumn or winter months! Spring/summer fertilisers usually have increased nitrogen levels, which encourage grass growth. However, this is something we do not want later in the year in the winter, as the harsher temperatures can damage new growth. The fertiliser should not be applied when the lawn is frozen or there is a drought; these conditions are a waste of fertiliser since the soil will not absorb the nutrients properly.
Water granular fertiliser if you are not expecting rainfall
After applying fertiliser, it is important to water the granules, particularly if there is no rainfall. If left dry, the fertiliser will burn and damage the existing grass. Our time-saving tip is to fertilise on a day when you are expecting a good amount of rain so it does the job for you. Otherwise, water it off yourself using a hose or sprinkler system.
Our Fertiliser Help & Advice section has a lot of helpful tips on using fertiliser in autumn and any time of the year. We also have a Fertiliser Frequently Asked Questions area, which is a collection of questions we have heard from customers and answered over the years.
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