Vital job all gardeners must do to their lawn now to make sure it thrives over winter

Gardeners across the UK will be looking to keep their garden in tip-top shape this autumn following the wear and tear of summer. These simple steps are a must for every gardener

Wet weather and less footfall means autumn is the perfect time of year to take care of your lawn.

Summer can mean you use the strip of grass much more, whether it is barbecues in the sun, football with wake from their slumber.

BBC Gardeners' World Magazine said: “Giving your lawn a bit of attention in autumn will get it back into good shape before winter sets in. This can include removing thatch, moss and weeds, aerating your lawn, fixing patches and even feeding it if it really needs some care.”

The magazine has an easy list of things you need to take care of your lawn this autumn. They are as follows:

• Lawn mower
• Spring-tined lawn rake
• Garden fork
• Lawn seed
• Hand fork
• Watering can
• Autumn lawn feed
• Taking care of your lawn

Start by cutting your grass with a lawn mower. Do this carefully by raising your mower blades to “ensure there is more grass to photosynthesise available sunlight, which means more sugars are stored in the roots for future growth”, Gardeners’ World said. Around 4cm should be enough.

Once you have done that, make sure to collect the clippings and add them to a compost heap. The nutrients from the pile can be added back to your garden at a later date.

You should also make sure to avoid mowing a frosty lawn and mow less in the autumn months.

Next, you should follow a process of ‘scarifying’ your lawn. This means removing moss and the brown material found under grass blades known as thatch. This will help new grass to grow and more moss to form. Use a rake to scarify your lawn.

Gardeners' World said: "Scarifying once a year can dramatically improve the health and vigour of your lawn. Simply rake the lawn vigorously with a long-tined lawn rake to remove moss, creeping stems and trodden-in decaying material that has accumulated over the summer. The lawn will end up looking rather ravaged but not for long – the grass will recover quickly and will grow thicker and lusher as a result."

Follow this by spiking the surface with a garden fork, making holes of between 8cm and 15cm deep. This should help growth and improve drainage.

Once you have completed the steps above, loosen bald or thinning patches of soil with a fork and place grass seeds on the surface before covering with compost and water.