Benefits of using lawn feed in autumn

Using fertiliser to feed your lawn through autumn and winter means your grass will emerge much healthier in spring. Doing so will also help minimise the need for lawn renovations the following year. Something to consider is the lawn fertiliser you use because the best fertiliser to use will depend on whether you are sowing new grass from scratch or have an existing lawn.

If you’re unsure about how to use lawn fertiliser, we have a helpful video below which will help:

Autumn fertiliser for new grass

If you plan to sow a new lawn in autumn, we recommend opting for our QUICK RELEASE: Pre-Seed fertiliser. This will give your soil and new grass the nutrients it needs to germinate quickly and establish well. We recommend using pre-seed fertiliser before sowing grass seed. Apply this fertiliser at the required spreading rate and then water the granules until they are completely dissolved. This feed will last for six weeks throughout the duration of your lawn establishment.

What lawn food should I use after my grass is established?

Your lawn can be mowed once the grass is established. This generally takes around 6-8 weeks, or once the blades measure 5-7cm long. As winter approaches, it is best to consider fertilising again, this time with a SLOW RELEASE: Autumn / Winter fertiliser. The purpose of this is to provide your lawn with four months of coverage so it doesn’t come out of hibernation hungry! Come spring, you’ll notice your grass looks just as good as it did when you first sowed it!

If you prefer using liquid fertilisers or would like to use a nutrient-rich formula for feeding your grass quickly, then our Make it Strong liquid lawn feed is the way to go! This fast-acting autumn/winter liquid lawn feed will lock in nutrients and block out any unwelcome lawn diseases over the winter period.

Choosing fertiliser for an existing lawn?

If your lawn is already in good condition and you want to keep it healthy, you should aim to use a SLOW RELEASE: Autumn / Winter fertiliser. This slow-release fertiliser will keep your lawn protected against frost, snow and typical winter diseases that can occur around this time.

When to apply autumn lawn food?

Once you have mowed your lawn, you can spread the fertiliser at a rate of 35g per m2 and then water it in. It is best to apply this fertiliser between September / early October so you get the benefit of the four-month-long coverage. If you have left it a little late in the season for fertilising, you can use our QUICK RELEASE: Autumn / Winter fertiliser instead. This quick-release fertiliser will work fast over six weeks to keep your lawn steadily fed and safe from frost damage and disease. And you can apply this twice within the autumn/winter period.

What to use for weeds and moss?

If you have weeds or moss on your lawn, you can use our Feed, Weed and Moss Killer. We would advise using this in early September as it works over two weeks to eradicate weeds and moss and feeds your grass to enhance its greenness.

In the coming weeks, you may see bare patches where moss and weeds were growing previously. These areas will require reseeding, so it is better to complete this task at the beginning of autumn to allow time for reseeded areas to grow.

For further reading, you may find our sowing grass seed in September, and our fertiliser guides useful.

We also have helpful information in our Lawn Fertiliser Help & Advice and Fertiliser Frequently Asked Questions sections.