Gardeners wanting lush green lawns given four-week warning to do one job

Autumn was the perfect time to give lawns some TLC

Gardeners wanting lush green grass have been told to get one job out of the way in the next few weeks. Autumn was the perfect time to give lawns some TLC, and it starts with removing moss.

Moss quickly spreads, and in addition to being uneven and spongy-looking, it can cause grass to die off in the summer, resulting in bald or earthy patches. But before turning to strong chemical-based moss killers, the Lawn Association has urged people to consider a different approach.

Scarifying - a process that revitalises grass and promotes healthier growth - was also endorsed by the Royal Horticultural Society, which said it was best done in October or early November "when the grass is growing strongly" and the conditions were mild and damp.

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The process involves removing the thatch layer from lawns, which is the brown material that builds up under grass blades and stops water and nutrients from reaching the roots and can encourage moss growth. Scarifying also aerates the lawn, allowing air and water to flow through the soil, The Express reports.

"When it comes to scarification, you are effectively pruning your lawn," The Lawn Association team said. "Through this procedure, you are not trying to dominate nature, but instead, giving it a helping hand to work at its best by controlling the thatch, which in turn will probably mean you never have moss. By regularly aerating your lawn, you allow rainwater to run down into the soil and away from the surface, giving the moss spores less chance to germinate."

How do I scarify the lawn?

Lawns should be mown to a short length at the start of the process. Moss should then be gently removed using a spring-tined rake or a mechanical scarifier tool, working in one direction before turning 90 degrees to cover the entire area.

During the raking process, it is important to remove as much moss and debris as possible, to expose bare soil. Bare patches would determine where seeds need to be when over-seeding, with any remaining debris reducing the chances of the seed rooting and growing.

An autumn lawn feed that's rich in potassium and phosphorus should be applied after scarifying, to encourage root growth and hardiness. This should be done before overseeding bare patches, which was the final step.

Gardening experts agree that scarifying in autumn improved water penetration and nutrient absorption, making lawns more resilient to drought and extreme weather. Those who put in the extra effort just before winter would be rewarded with a healthier, more attractive garden next year.