Gardeners urged to do 1 key autumn lawn job now - before it's too late

Gardeners have been urged to do an important lawn job to give it the best chance of flourishing next spring. As the darker cooler nights of autumn set in, green fingered Britons are preparing their plots for harsher conditions, and making preparations to protect their gardens.

Cold weather can present challenges for your lawn, and ensuring that it's getting all the air and nutrients it needs is key. Thankfully there are various small jobs you can do now to help get the best out of the soil in the weeks and months ahead.

Country Living says getting your lawn in ship shape before the frost arrives is crucial. The outlet spoke to Chrissie Handley, a gardening expert and specialist in lawns at Online Turf, who highlighted the importance of aeration.

Lawn aeration is when you poking holes into the soil under neath the lawn to help ensure the soil gets sufficient air circulation. It's an important job in autumn when the soil may well be compacted by mowing and walking on it.

Chrissie said: "With the increased rainfall of autumn and winter, make sure your ground can drain correctly, otherwise you may end up with a boggy lawn."

She recommends aerating while temperatures remain mild, before the cold temperatures make it harder to push through. Pools of water that aren't draining are a sign it may be neccessary.

This is normally done with a garden fork, and there are also specialised machines for it.

It's also an important time to feed your lawn so your roots are suffiently resilient to fight off frost, as well as disease pests that may munch at it through winter.

Chrissy advises using a fertiliser "specifically designed for winter", saying a "slow-release, balanced fertiliser will do the trick".

Meanwhile, Andrew Huber, a gardening expert at The Lawn Squad, shared a homemade fertiliser he says can help your lawn stay healthy through the chilly weeks and months ahead, putting it in a good potition to turn "beautifully-green" come next spring.

He said: "Ever wondered how to get that lush, deep green lawn without breaking the bank? I've got the scoop on DIY lawn care that'll turn your yard into the envy of the neighbourhood."

Find out more here.