In autumn, you can no longer ignore the traces left on the lawn by summer drought, happy barbecue parties and wild children's birthday parties. Now the green space really deserves a revitalization treatment in order to be prepared for the rigors of winter. If you pay attention to the following recommendations, your lawn carpet will shine in lush green next year.
Sweeping autumn leaves every week
A thick layer of autumn leaves deprives your lawn of air to breathe and cuts off the blades from light. If cold, damp autumn weather comes along, mold and moss are inevitable. Therefore, sweep the leaves off the lawn at least once a week. Fallen fruit and fruit mummies are also removed on this occasion. By the way, working with a lawnmower at the highest setting is quicker.
Potassium fertilizer strengthens winter hardiness - This is how it works
The main nutrient potassium strengthens the resistance of every blade of grass and lowers the freezing point in the cell sap. At the end of the season, provide your lawn with a potassium-rich autumn lawn fertilizer. Fertilizers with an NPK composition of 7+3+10 or the cheaper patent potash, also known as potash magnesia, are well suited. How to do it right:
- Mowing the lawn in early autumn
- Fill potassium fertilizer into a spreader and spread it
- Then water the area
Don't wait too long to fertilize with potassium. If the temperatures fall below 10 degrees, the nutrients can no longer be fully absorbed and processed by the noble grasses.
Lime brings the soil acidity into balance
If a lawn looks more like a moss pad in autumn, it is suffering from acidified soil. The pH value is well below the ideal value of 6 to 7. By adding lawn lime you can bring the soil acidity level back into balance. The best time is about 4 weeks before applying fall lawn fertilizer. How to properly lime your autumn lawn:
- Mow the lawn at the end of August/beginning of September
- Apply lawn lime with the spreader
- Water the greenery thoroughly with the sprinkler
Since the dosage of the amount of lime depends crucially on the actual pH value, carry out a test beforehand. Test sets are available at every garden center and hardware store.
Last lawn cut at the right time – this is how it works
Are you unsure when to mow your lawn for the last time? Then wait until the first frosty night. From this point on, the grass will no longer grow, so your lawn will go into the winter looking well-groomed. Please ensure a cutting height of around 4 cm for ornamental and play lawns. Please do not mow shaded lawns shorter than 8 cm.
Tip
If an autumn lawn resembles a patchwork carpet, it is scarified before the revitalization treatment begins. Ideally, the weather is dry with temperatures between 15 and 20 degrees Celsius. Mow the lawn to 3 to 4 cm. Then use the scarifier to walk the area lengthwise and crosswise. The combed out greenery is disposed of in the compost.
