Four important lawn tasks you need to complete now or you risk the grass dying in the spring

Lawns generally do not need to be mowed during the winter months, and there are four gardening tasks that can be done now to help protect them.

This includes aerating, final mowing, laying new sod, and removing leaves and debris from the lawn.

Jamie Shipley, horticulturist and general manager Direct FencesHe said: “As winter approaches, you may think your garden needs less maintenance.

“In fact, this is one of the busiest moments in the gardening calendar when you are collecting, pruning, moving and examining existing plants, as well as planting and propagating lots of new plants and tending the lawn.”

All of the work recommended by the expert will help protect the lawn from freezing and come to spring.

1. Ventilate

The expert said: “If your lawn is prone to waterlogging in winter, it may be a good idea to improve drainage by aerating in the autumn.

“The simplest way to do this is to repeatedly drive nails as deep as possible with a garden fork on a larger scale using a weathering machine.

“A layer of sand brushed into the holes will help the effects last longer.”

2. Increase the height of lawn mower blades

If it’s still mild fall weather where you live and you’re still mowing the lawn, make sure the mower is set to a higher setting.

Lawns need to be in optimum health to survive the winter, and a higher cut allows this to happen.

3. Lay new grass on warm, dry days

The horticulture expert explained: “November can be a great time to lay a lawn, the wet weather will take care of the watering and it will have a few months to acclimate before the hot, dry weather arrives.

“Avoid doing this on very rainy or cold days.” Also, avoid walking on frozen grass to prevent brown spots from appearing on it.

4. Remove leaves and debris

This may seem like a never-ending task in the fall, but staying on top of it will help keep your lawn free of rotting grass.

The professional noted: “However, rather than removing the leaves completely, I recommend raking them from your lawn and pavers into your flower beds.

“Fallen leaves are actually a great heat insulator and will prevent the ground from freezing during future cold weather this winter.

“Wildlife also love bunches of leaves because they can use them as nesting sites.”

If you don’t feel like doing this, the leaves can be collected and placed in compost or used to make leaf mould.