How to Renovate Your Lawn
This guide shows you how to bring a tired lawn back to life over autumn, when warm soil and steady rain give grass its best chance to recover. You'll learn how to clear out thatch and moss, ease compaction and get new seed to take. The hands-on work takes an afternoon. After that, it's mostly watering and patience while the lawn thickens up.
When
Early Autumn
Difficulty
Moderate
Hands-on time
3 hours
You'll need
- ✓Lawn scarifier
- ✓Lawn aerator
- ✓Grass seed
- ✓Top dressing
- ✓Autumn feed
- ✓Garden rake
- ✓Watering can (or hose)
Dan's Tip
Don't try to do everything in one weekend. Scarifying, aerating and overseeding all stress the lawn a little, so spacing them out over a week or two often gives better results than rushing.
Step by step guide
Mow It Short
Cut the lawn shorter than usual, down to around 2.5cm, before you start. This exposes the soil surface and makes it far easier for the scarifier and seed to do their job properly.
Check for Problems First
Have a look over the whole lawn for compacted areas, thick thatch, moss or bare patches. Knowing what you're dealing with helps you judge how hard to scarify and where to focus your effort.
10 more steps, plus winter care, common mistakes, troubleshooting and FAQs
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