October lawn care tips – 6 tasks to complete now for lush green grass in 2027
The best ways to restore tired grass
Looking for October lawn care tips? Early autumn is the perfect time to give your lawn some TLC.
Especially after the sweltering summer we've just had. That actually makes October one of the most important months in the lawn care calendar – this month is all about reviving tired grass, and the effort you put in now could determine how healthy your grass is in 2027.
From scarifying to sowing new grass, these are the lawn care tasks to add to your list of October garden jobs for a lush green lawn.
What you'll need
This lawn food is designed specifically for autumn feeding.
Fast-acting lawn seed encourages germination before the sowing window closes.
October is the perfect time to aerate your lawn.
1. Scarify
October is the perfect time to learn how to scarify your lawn. In a nutshell, that means removing a layer of thatch (dead grass, moss and weeds) from your lawn, giving it more room to breathe and access water and nutrients.
‘One of the best times to scarify is early autumn, when grass is actively growing and can recover quickly,’ says Guy Jenkins, consumer manager at Johnsons Lawn Seed. ‘Soil temperatures should be still warm enough for regrowth, and the lawn should not be frozen, waterlogged or under drought stress.’
You can scarify a lawn manually, using a tool like the WOLF-Garten Roller Moss Rake and Handle from B&Q, or invest in a machine that’ll do it for you in half the time. I just tried the Vonhaus Lawn Scarifier and Aerator, and it took so much effort out of the job.
2. Keep mowing
If you've been wondering when to stop cutting grass for the winter, we're not quite there yet – in October, you should be giving your grass its last few cuts before the colder weather arrives. Just make sure you raise your blades a setting or two to account for slower growth.
'Grass will grow in temperatures between 8°C and 10°C, so bring out the lawnmower before the mercury drops below this,' advises Chris McIlroy, The Grass People's in-house lawn expert.
Avoid mowing your grass while it's wet, though. 'Damp blades will give you an uneven cut, and dragging your mower along wet grass can also compact the soil and lead to uneven growth in the future,' Chris adds.
Chris is the technical product lead and in-house lawn seed expert for The Grass People, a grass seed company that champion their expert lead advice and high-quality seed. His advice is focused on sowing, mowing, and maintaining a perfect lawn, and how to overcome any lawn issues homeowners face.
3. Treat your lawn
After a long, hot summer, it's a good idea to give your lawn a boost by treating it with an autumn feed this month.
Feeding your lawn is part of a healthy October lawn care regime – but it's important to do it before the end of October.
'Apply autumn lawn treatments to tackle moss and feed the grass for a healthy, lush lawn come spring,' says Jane Fairlie, technical development manager at Doff Portland Ltd. 'Don’t forget, this is your last chance for weed control before temperatures drop below 12°C.'
If you're wondering what lawn fertiliser to use in autumn, Chris recommends a specialist winter fertiliser with high levels of potassium. 'This will harden your grass against more extreme cold weather and protect it from winter disease and frost.'
Miracle-Gro EverGreen Autumn Lawn Care Lawn Food & Moss Control (available at Amazon) is designed for autumn feeding.
4. Sow grass seed before it's too late
If you've been wondering whether grass seed will grow in October, the answer is yes – but time is running out, as this month is your last chance to sow before temperatures drop.
'In autumn, soil temperatures and moisture levels are ideal for seed germination and recovery,' says Guy from Johnsons Lawn Seed.
'You’re looking for day and night temperatures of at least 10°C for the two weeks after you have sown for germination,' adds Chris from The Grass People.
I just sowed Westland PureGreen Lawn Seed using the Miracle-Gro Drop Spreader, which helped me sow an even lawn in half the usual time.
5. Aerate your lawn
Learning how to aerate a lawn is one of the best things you can do for your garden. The technique involves making holes in your lawn to help air and nutrients reach the grass roots, promoting lush, healthy growth.
'A well-aerated lawn has a much better chance of surviving winter's cold, wet conditions without suffering damage,' says Cheryl Harper, managing director at Greensleeves Lawn Care. 'Healthy grass can outcompete weeds and resist diseases, leading to a greener, lusher lawn in spring. Treating in late summer and early autumn helps to combat waterlogging ahead of the winter.'
There are various tools you can use to aerate your lawn, from a simple garden fork to a dedicated tool like the McGregor Garden Lawn Aerator from Argos.
6. Watch out for autumn lawn pests
Leatherjackets are even more active this month, and left unchecked, the critters can thwart your October lawn care regime.
Luckily, you can learn how to get rid of leatherjackets – but first, you'll need to learn how to spot an infestation.
'The easiest way to tell if you have a leatherjacket infestation is to find a grub,' says Matt Martin from Nemasys. 'They have long, elongated tubular bodies and can grow up to 30mm. They have no obvious head or legs and can be brown or black in colour.
'In the morning, the grubs will have risen to the surface and will be easy to see. With severe infestations, it is possible to lift the first layer of soil with a shovel or trowel and spot the critters wriggling around just below the surface!'
A thin, yellowing lawn can also signal the presence of leatherjackets, but there are many reasons why a lawn could be turning yellow, so root around for the grubs to be sure.
FAQs
Can I use lawn weedkiller in October?
You can use lawn weedkiller in October, but you'll need to act fast if you want to catch them all.
'You will only kill weeds when they are actively growing,' says Ben. 'This means if you want to use a lawn weedkiller in October, you will need to get cracking – and sharpish.
'Mow your lawn at least two days before applying your weedkiller. Don’t cut too close – you want to make sure there are still leaves left to spray. Then, make sure there’s no rain forecast for at least six hours as rain will dilute your weedkiller.'
Which October lawn care tasks will you be adding to this month's to-do list?
