Lawn Maintenance

Seasonal lawn care

A step by step guide to lawn care throughout the year

We all want a lush green, weed and moss free lawn, but how can we achieve this? By following these simple steps each season you can achieve a lawn which is healthy all year round. Whatever lawn you have, there are many Miracle-Gro products that you can use to help give your lawn the perfect boost.

Author

Kate Turner

Horticulturalist

Spring: March–April

Spring into action now to give your lawn the best start for the busy months ahead. Follow these simple steps for a healthy, lush lawn.

Now is a great time to scarify/rake your lawn to remove any build-up of dead materials, such as moss, leaves and grass. Make sure the lawn is over 12 months old though! It’s a great work out for you too!
Start feeding your lawn with a high nitrogen feed to help promote lush, green growth such as Miracle-Gro^® Lawn Builder which provides optimum nutrition for your lawn, helping make it greener, stronger and denser to outcompete unwanted weeds and moss.
If your lawn is looking patchy or thin after a harsh, wet winter, then you can over-seed it with a lawn seed such as Miracle-Gro^® Quick Grow Lawn Seed. This involves mowing your lawn, raking it lightly, then applying lawn seed all over the thin and patchy areas. Keep it moist to enable good germination and in a week or so, you should see the new shoots coming through, helping thicken up your existing lawn. Germination will be slower in colder weather, so this is best done in later spring.
Start mowing the lawn if it’s not frosty or wet, but make sure the blades are high for the first few cuts.
If the lawn starts to grow and along with it grow loads of weeds and moss, then use an all-purpose product as long as the lawn is over 6 months old. A treatment such as Miracle-Gro^® Complete 4 in 1 will not only feed the lawn, it will also control weeds and moss at the same time. Always use a spreader for lawn treatments and make sure you read the label first and follow the instructions carefully.

Recommended spring lawn products

Miracle-Gro^® Lawn Builder

Miracle-Gro^® Quick Grow Lawn Seed

Miracle-Gro^® Complete 4 in 1

Early summer: May–June

Now is the time for lawns to start looking their best. Follow these simple steps to maximise the health and look of your lawn ready for the start of a long, hot summer.

Increase your mowing routine and gradually start to lower the blade height, but be careful not to scalp the lawn. Little and often is best with mowing as a regular mow helps keep down moss and weeds and encourages the lawn to thicken up.
Now is the perfect time to sow a new lawn and depending on what type of lawn you want, pick the right sort of seed. If you’re not sure, then opt for a general seed such as Miracle-Gro^® Multi Purpose Lawn Seed. Keep watering any newly sown seed, especially if it’s dry, and don’t mow newly seeded areas until the grass reaches at least 5cm long.
Feed the lawn with a child and pet friendly product such as Miracle-Gro^® Healthy Lawn, ideally using a spreader, to keep the lawn lush and green throughout the summer.
Keep a look out for weeds and either pull them out or spot treat with a selective lawn weedkiller. Regular mowing and feeding will help prevent weeds taking hold in your garden, and never let a lawn weed set seed.
Keep re-seeding bare patches if needed with a special patching product such as Miracle-Gro^® Patch Magic^® Grass Seed, Feed & Coir and remember to keep the seed moist until it has established.

Recommended early summer lawn products

Miracle-Gro^® Multi Purpose Lawn Seed

Miracle-Gro^® Healthy Lawn

Miracle-Gro^® Patch Magic^® Grass Seed, Feed & Coir

Summer: July–August

At the height of summer your lawn will still need some simple maintenance to keep it looking lush and lovely. Follow these simple steps for a happy, healthy lawn all summer long.

Grass can often start to turn brown in a hot, dry summer but don’t always race for the hose. Keep newly seeded areas watered but be aware that although an established lawn might go brown and look dead, often it’s only dormant and will usually return to green once the rain starts again.
Keep feeding your lawn through the summer using a liquid feed, and if you are planning a garden BBQ or party, and your lawn is in need of a quick boost, then try a greening product such as Miracle-Gro^® Fast Green Lawn Food Spray & Feed. This will take effect in 24 hours, leaving you with a lovely green lawn.
Keep a look out for weeds and either pull them out or spot treat with a selective lawn weedkiller. Regular mowing and feeding will help prevent weeds taking hold in your garden, and never let a lawn weed set seed.
Don’t apply granular products to your lawn if the weather is very dry as this will risk scorching it.
If the lawn is very dry, try not to go on it too much and if regular areas are used for games or trampolines and start to become bare, wait until the autumn to carry out repairs using lawn seed.
Keep up with the regular mowing unless there are drought conditions ,and the grass is very dry and brown.

Recommended summer lawn products

Miracle-Gro^® Fast Green Lawn Food Spray & Feed

Weedol^® LN Lawn Weed Control (Ready to Use)

Early autumn: September–October

Autumn is the best time for some lawn maintenance, especially if your lawn is looking tired and worn.

A bit like spring, now is a great time to scarify (rake) thoroughly and aerate using a garden fork.
Apply a lawn dressing and carefully sweep it into the aeration holes as well as the whole lawn area.
Before the cold weather really kicks in and the soil is still mild and damp, now is the ideal time to sow or over-seed lawns especially after carrying out the above tasks. Select seeds that reflect how you use the lawn, for example, choose a multi-purpose seed if you have kids and pets running around the garden or a luxury seed such as Miracle-Gro^® Soft & Lush Lawn Seed which is more suited for a lawn that likes to be admired. Always keep the seed moist until it has established.
If moss is a problem in your lawn, follow step one and then apply a suitable moss control product like Miracle-Gro^® Autumn Lawn Care. Not only will this control the moss, it will also feed your lawn to help it withstand the rigours of winter.

Recommended autumn lawn products

Miracle-Gro^® EverGreen^® Autumn Lawn Care

Miracle-Gro^® Soft & Lush Lawn Seed

Late autumn and winter: November–February

Lawns may go dormant in winter but by following the simple steps below you can ensure your lawn stays healthy throughout these cold, wet months and beyond.

Keep leaves off the lawn, don’t wait for the trees to be bare as leaving leaves on the lawn for too long, especially if it’s wet will kill off or weaken the grass underneath.
Aerate if weather allows using a garden fork.
Keep off the lawn if its frosty or waterlogged. Now’s a great time to add a simple path to areas that are used consistently, such as walking to the shed or clothes line.
Trim back any trees or shrubs once they have lost their leaves, that are overhanging the lawn and causing shade.
Check your mower, now’s an excellent time to get it serviced and check the blades are sharp.