When to Feed your Lawn

Autumn Lawn Care – When to Feed Your Lawn

With summer 2025 shaping up to be one of the warmest and driest on record, it’s no surprise that our lawns are suffering. There just hasn’t been enough rain to support healthy grass growth, and as a result, gardens across the UK are looking a bit yellow and patchy.

But don’t panic - lawns are resilient. And even with autumn just around the corner, there’s still time to help your grass recover and prepare your lawn for the colder months ahead. 

Why Autumn Feeding is Important

Autumn lawn care focuses less on chasing top growth and more on long-term health. 

Feeding now helps:

• Support strong, healthy root systems

• Build resilience against winter frost, snow and disease

• Aid recovery after months of summer wear and tear

Products like Plush Lawn Seed & Feed Lawn Conditioner make this process simple by combining fast-growing premium grass seed with a balanced NPK fertiliser that has added iron, for a rich green colour. The slow-release feed will nourish your lawn right through autumn and winter, giving your grass a boost ready for next spring.

Plush Lawn is easy to use, simply rake the ground and remove moss and weeds, shake the product evenly across the soil and then water thoroughly to activate the fertiliser. The shaker box is compostable, so you can save space in your cardboard recycling bin!

Tackling Bare Patches in Your Lawn

Even with the right autumn feed, some patches might need extra attention after a busy summer in the garden. Yellow circles where the paddling pool sat for weeks, scorch marks from the dog’s toilet trips and a worn goalmouth after endless kick-abouts are all part of a well-loved family lawn.

This is where Pronto Seed Ultra Patch comes in. Designed for rapid patch repairs, it combines fast-growing premium grass seed, organic lawn fertiliser and coir growing medium in one easy-to-use cardboard shaker box. The coir provides a ready-made environment for the seeds to settle into. As soon as it is watered, it swells around the grass seeds, protecting them from hungry birds while accelerating germination and locking in moisture.

Coir is a peat-free, eco-friendly alternative to compost. It’s made from the part of a coconut that would normally go to waste, which means Ultra Patch is as kind to the environment as it is to your garden. Plus, it’s safe to use around children and pets once watered in, so you can repair your lawn without worrying about harming your family or wildlife. 

As with other Pronto Seed products, application is straightforward: simply rake, shake and water.

When to Feed Your Lawn In Autumn

The best time to feed your lawn is usually mid‑September to late October, but with this year’s dry weather, soil moisture matters as much as timing.

Applying feed to very dry grass can cause scorching on the grass blades, so always check the ground first. The soil should be damp enough for the nutrients to be absorbed and reach the roots effectively.

Should You Fertilise Before or After Rain?

Moisture is essential for the nutrients to work their magic. Ideally, apply lawn feed just before light rain so it’s naturally watered in.

• If no rain is forecast, water the lawn a few days before feeding and give it a light sprinkle afterwards.

• If heavy rain is expected, wait! Downpours can wash away nutrients before they’ve been absorbed.

Best Time of Day to Feed a Lawn

The best time of day to apply lawn feed is in the late afternoon or early evening. By then, the dew has lifted and the sun isn’t as intense, reducing the risk of scorching.

Avoid early mornings or late evenings. Applying onto dew-covered grass can result in the wet blades holding onto the fertiliser, meaning less of it reaches the soil, which is a waste of your time and effort!

Mowing: Before or After Feed?

For the best results, mow your lawn a couple of days before feeding:

1. Cut the grass slightly shorter than usual, but don’t scalp stressed lawns

2. Completely remove clippings so the fertiliser can reach the soil evenly

3. Avoid mowing and heavy traffic for 12 - 21 days to allow strong growth

Tips for a Healthier Lawn Going into Winter

• Rake fallen leaves so that daylight reaches the grass

• Aerate compacted soil by pushing a fork into the ground at regular intervals across the lawn. If you give the fork a wiggle, it creates lots of small holes that help loosen the compacted soil so that water and nutrients can reach the roots

• Limit foot traffic on lawns that are still recovering

• Top-dress thin patches with a light layer of compost to retain moisture and support new growth

Common Autumn Lawn Care Mistakes

• Feeding on dry soil, nutrients can’t reach the roots

• Using the wrong feed: spring/summer products encourage top growth rather than root growth. Use something suitable for the full growing season, like Plush Lawn

• Overfeeding can scorch the grass, leaving bare patches where moss can take hold

• Ignoring bare patches which weeds then fill over winter

• Skipping aeration - compacted soil stops water and nutrients from reaching roots

Recommended Products for Autumn Lawn Care

Plush Lawn Seed & Feed – Pet Friendly Lawn Conditioner

An all-in-one solution for refreshing and repairing your lawn year-round. Combining premium grass seed with fertiliser, Plush Lawn is an easy way to thicken and restore your lawn, with results visible in just a couple of weeks. It’s safe to use around pets and children once watered in (usually 7-10 days).

Pronto Seed Ultra Patch

For bare or damaged spots, Ultra Patch is your shortcut to healthy regrowth. It’s an all-in-one lawn repair mix, combining speedy grass seed, expanding coir, fertiliser and a pet urine neutraliser to quickly restore a thick, green lawn. It’s safe to use around pets and children once watered in (usually 7-10 days).

White Clover Seed

For a lush, low-maintenance alternative to a grass lawn, consider white clover seed. It’s a hardy, drought- and frost-tolerant perennial with pinkish-white blooms and lush green foliage. Once established, white clover creates a low-growing carpet that reduces mowing, enhances biodiversity and nourishes the soil. Recognised by the RHS Plants for Pollinators scheme, it’s loved by bees and butterflies alike.

 

FAQs

Can I still feed my lawn in November?
Yes, if temperatures are above 8°C and the soil isn’t frozen or waterlogged, but earlier autumn feeding is more effective.

Do I need to aerate before feeding?
It’s not essential but highly recommended for compacted soil, especially after drought, as it helps nutrients reach the roots.

How long should I keep pets off the lawn after feeding?
Plush Lawn Grass Conditioner takes around 7-10 days to soak into the ground. After that, your lawn is pet- and child-friendly.

Do I need to reseed after a dry summer, or will feeding be enough?
If bare patches remain, reseeding alongside feeding gives the best results. Pronto Seed Ultra Patch makes this quick and simple.

Buy Online Today

All of our lawn care products are available through our online grass seed store, with fast free UK delivery as standard. Try our lawn revive bundle or lawn repair bundle, which contain everything you need to achieve a lush, healthy lawn.