Lawn care in November: rake fallen leaves<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Fallen](\"https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Fallen-leaves.jpg\")
<\/a>Fallen leaves suffocate lawns – Photo by Georg Eiermann<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThey might look pretty adorning your lawn in their array of reds, yellows, and browns, but fallen leaves pose a grave threat to your grass plants. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fallen leaves are problematic because they:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Block out the daylight from your grass plants<\/strong> \u2014 remember, the sun is an essential element of photosynthesis; without light, your grass starves to death. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Suffocate the soil <\/strong>\u2014 your grass plants’ roots need oxygen (see “aerate” later in this article). Fallen leaves plus rain equals suffocation for roots because they form an airtight seal over the lawn’s surface. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Promote fungi and disease<\/strong> \u2014 the dark, wet conditions underneath that carpet of leaves offer the ideal conditions for fungi and diseases to develop. Yuck.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
So, get raking. It’s usually fine to rake fallen leaves into your compost. Or how about making your own leaf mould<\/a> – a super nutritious treat for your flower beds?<\/p>\n\n\n\nAlternatively, simply rake the leaves into your flower beds \u2014 they offer a healthy layer of mulch to help your bedding plants survive the winter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lawn care in November: mow<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Lawn](\"https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Mowing-long-grass.jpg\")
<\/a>Mow your lawn before winter – Photo by Daniel Watson<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhile your grass will grow more slowly throughout November, it really depends on the weather. If it remains unseasonally warm, it will continue to grow. As a general rule of thumb, your grass will grow until the soil temperature hits a consistent 5\u00baC \u2014 at that stage, it\u2019ll go to sleep till the spring. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, if your grass is still growing, mow it. Your lawn will look more presentable, but it will also prevent soil suffocation \u2014 long, wet grass can fall flat on the soil and act like a carpet of fallen leaves. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
However:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Don’t cut your lawn too short at this time of year \u2014 no shorter than 5cm. Longer grass is more robust and will better handle the cold conditions to come. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It’s got to be said: it’s pretty challenging to grab a dry spell right now, so if you do mow, try to let your grass blades dry out as much as possible first. And clean the underside of your mower, as the wetter grass will stick. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Service your mower<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If you suspect you’ve reached your final mow of the year, it’s time to give your mower a once-over to ensure it remains in good condition for spring. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, service your mower by carrying out the following checks:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Replace the oil and air filter (if it has them)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Replace or clean the spark plug (if it has one)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Clean the caked on grass from the underside<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Sharpen the cutting blades \u2014 remember, blunt blades tear the grass, leaving it at risk of infection.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Lawn care in November: sprinkle lime<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Front](\"https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/lawn-lime.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nMoss loves cold, wet, dark days, and your lawn is at real risk of moss growth during its dormancy. So, limit moss growth by sprinkling lime over your turf. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
MOOWY\u2019s Lawn Lime<\/a> lowers soil acidity, making your turf less hospitable to weeds. <\/p>\n\n\n\nMost soils acidify over time as debris from surrounding plant life decomposes underneath the grass line. And if pine trees surround your garden, the dropped needles leak acid into the soil, which your rhododendrons might love (but your grass plants will hate). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I recommend sprinkling lime twice a year \u2014 once in the spring and then again in late autumn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Carry out a soil test<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Use a soil acidity tool to identify the current acidity level. Grass enjoys a pH of 6.5 \u2014 any more acid and the earth will stunt your turf’s growth (although you’ll get a plethora of weeds!). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Check out our expert\u2019s guide to beautifying your lawn with lime<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\nLawn care in November: fertilise<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Front](\"https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/all-round-lawn-fertiliser.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nIt’s still possible to fertilise your lawn until the outside temperature drops below 10\u00baC. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Use a fertiliser with a slow-acting nitrogen and potassium content, such as MOOWY’s All Round fertiliser<\/a>, which drastically improves your lawn’s resistance over the winter. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThe nitrogen stimulates growth (until it goes dormant), and potassium improves your turf’s disease resistance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
However: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you’re liming AND fertilising, leave three weeks between the tasks, or they could cancel each other out. Sprinkle lime first, then fertilise three weeks later. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lawn care in November: aerate<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Aeration](\"https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Aerator-sandals.jpg\")
<\/a>Aerating sandals<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nIf you notice puddles amassing on your lawn’s surface after rain, you’ll need to aerate your soil to improve drainage. This is most likely in heavy clay soils, but all soils can become compacted eventually, resulting in poor drainage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dig holes into the lawn\u2019s surface at regular intervals using a garden fork, aeration sandals<\/a>, a hollow tine aerator<\/a>, or a rotary aerator<\/a>. This will produce drainage holes, helping your grass survive the heavier winter showers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>They might look pretty adorning your lawn in their array of reds, yellows, and browns, but fallen leaves pose a grave threat to your grass plants. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fallen leaves are problematic because they:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Block out the daylight from your grass plants<\/strong> \u2014 remember, the sun is an essential element of photosynthesis; without light, your grass starves to death. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Suffocate the soil <\/strong>\u2014 your grass plants’ roots need oxygen (see “aerate” later in this article). Fallen leaves plus rain equals suffocation for roots because they form an airtight seal over the lawn’s surface. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Promote fungi and disease<\/strong> \u2014 the dark, wet conditions underneath that carpet of leaves offer the ideal conditions for fungi and diseases to develop. Yuck.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
So, get raking. It’s usually fine to rake fallen leaves into your compost. Or how about making your own leaf mould<\/a> – a super nutritious treat for your flower beds?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alternatively, simply rake the leaves into your flower beds \u2014 they offer a healthy layer of mulch to help your bedding plants survive the winter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lawn care in November: mow<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>Mow your lawn before winter – Photo by Daniel Watson<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n While your grass will grow more slowly throughout November, it really depends on the weather. If it remains unseasonally warm, it will continue to grow. As a general rule of thumb, your grass will grow until the soil temperature hits a consistent 5\u00baC \u2014 at that stage, it\u2019ll go to sleep till the spring. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, if your grass is still growing, mow it. Your lawn will look more presentable, but it will also prevent soil suffocation \u2014 long, wet grass can fall flat on the soil and act like a carpet of fallen leaves. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
However:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Don’t cut your lawn too short at this time of year \u2014 no shorter than 5cm. Longer grass is more robust and will better handle the cold conditions to come. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It’s got to be said: it’s pretty challenging to grab a dry spell right now, so if you do mow, try to let your grass blades dry out as much as possible first. And clean the underside of your mower, as the wetter grass will stick. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Service your mower<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If you suspect you’ve reached your final mow of the year, it’s time to give your mower a once-over to ensure it remains in good condition for spring. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, service your mower by carrying out the following checks:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Replace the oil and air filter (if it has them)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Replace or clean the spark plug (if it has one)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Clean the caked on grass from the underside<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Sharpen the cutting blades \u2014 remember, blunt blades tear the grass, leaving it at risk of infection.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Lawn care in November: sprinkle lime<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nMoss loves cold, wet, dark days, and your lawn is at real risk of moss growth during its dormancy. So, limit moss growth by sprinkling lime over your turf. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
MOOWY\u2019s Lawn Lime<\/a> lowers soil acidity, making your turf less hospitable to weeds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most soils acidify over time as debris from surrounding plant life decomposes underneath the grass line. And if pine trees surround your garden, the dropped needles leak acid into the soil, which your rhododendrons might love (but your grass plants will hate). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I recommend sprinkling lime twice a year \u2014 once in the spring and then again in late autumn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Carry out a soil test<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Use a soil acidity tool to identify the current acidity level. Grass enjoys a pH of 6.5 \u2014 any more acid and the earth will stunt your turf’s growth (although you’ll get a plethora of weeds!). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Check out our expert\u2019s guide to beautifying your lawn with lime<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lawn care in November: fertilise<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nIt’s still possible to fertilise your lawn until the outside temperature drops below 10\u00baC. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Use a fertiliser with a slow-acting nitrogen and potassium content, such as MOOWY’s All Round fertiliser<\/a>, which drastically improves your lawn’s resistance over the winter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The nitrogen stimulates growth (until it goes dormant), and potassium improves your turf’s disease resistance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
However: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you’re liming AND fertilising, leave three weeks between the tasks, or they could cancel each other out. Sprinkle lime first, then fertilise three weeks later. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lawn care in November: aerate<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>Aerating sandals<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n If you notice puddles amassing on your lawn’s surface after rain, you’ll need to aerate your soil to improve drainage. This is most likely in heavy clay soils, but all soils can become compacted eventually, resulting in poor drainage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dig holes into the lawn\u2019s surface at regular intervals using a garden fork, aeration sandals<\/a>, a hollow tine aerator<\/a>, or a rotary aerator<\/a>. This will produce drainage holes, helping your grass survive the heavier winter showers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Sharpen the cutting blades \u2014 remember, blunt blades tear the grass, leaving it at risk of infection.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Suffocate the soil <\/strong>\u2014 your grass plants’ roots need oxygen (see “aerate” later in this article). Fallen leaves plus rain equals suffocation for roots because they form an airtight seal over the lawn’s surface. <\/li>\n\n\n\n