Lawn care information for November

Heading through autumn towards December the mowing frequency will be reduced from twice a week to once a week and on down to once a month in November and December, unless of course the temperature has remained mild and the ground dry. Even then, this final mowing should only cut the top twenty-five percent off the grass to keep it tidy and collect up any fallen leaves.

So it is the ground conditions that will dictate the mowing function: rain, wet, damp and waterlogging, ground frost and snow will prevail and call for the end of mowing and time to have the garden tractor or mower serviced. While that may seem obvious, even with a good programme of lawn care throughout the year, fine turf is grown under conditions that are not entirely natural and the grass is about to be subjected to stress during the winter months as the weather does become cold, wet and freezing.

Spiking or slitting, by hand or mechanical means will help drainage and get air to the roots and the grass will still benefit from small doses of potassium to help combat the stress; but not too much because the greedy grass will take it all up. Iron can help to combat disease and will green up the lawn. So a low nitrogen, high potassium and iron treat will aid the grass through the stresses of winter.

Brushing off worm casts on drier days, avoiding walking on the grass when it's frosty, freezing or even wet will all help the cause and only mow if growth dictates. Turf should be laid in November, weather permitting, and trees or shrubs overhanging and causing shade on the lawn will need cutting back.

The Viano organic fertiliser range offers a number of products that can be used in November to assist the grass through the winter months. Viano Recovery will provide autumn nourishment and help green up the lawn and Bio Lime can be used on acid lawns with thatch and in need of greening. These will help see the grass through to February and the start of a new programme of lawn treatment, with Universal Lawn feed for nourishment and, in March, MO Bacter for the treatment of lawns with moss and thatch.

The Viano range of organic fertilisers is available from the Pitchcare shop