Autumn Lawn Care: Scarify, Aerate, Overseed
Priya Hollis · Sep 19, 2026 · 6 min read
Quick answer
Autumn is the best time to repair a tired lawn ready for next year.
After a summer of use and dry weather, lawns can be patchy, compacted, and full of thatch.
Cool, moist autumn weather is ideal for lawn repair, as grass seed germinates well and roots establish before winter.
1 Scarifying
Rake out dead grass and moss (thatch) with a spring-tine rake or scarifier. This lets air, water, and nutrients reach the roots.
2 Aerating
Spike the lawn with a garden fork or hollow-tine aerator to relieve compaction, especially in areas with heavy foot traffic.
3 Overseeding and feeding
- ✓Sow grass seed into thin areas
- ✓Top-dress with a light layer of sandy loam
- ✓Use an autumn lawn feed low in nitrogen
- ✓Keep newly seeded areas moist
4 Mowing
Raise the mower blade height as growth slows, and keep leaves off the lawn to prevent dead patches.
5 Dealing with moss
Moss thrives in shady, damp, compacted, or poorly fed lawns. Raking it out helps in the short term, but improving conditions — aerating, improving drainage, reducing shade by pruning overhanging branches, and feeding — stops it coming back. In very shady areas, consider replacing grass with shade-tolerant planting or a mulched area instead.
This is general gardening information. Results depend on your climate, soil, and conditions. Follow label directions for any fertiliser or treatment, and check whether plants are toxic to pets or children before bringing them home.