Lawn care checklist
A lawn is mostly made in autumn and spring rather than during the summer cuts everyone notices. This runs the jobs in the order the grass actually needs them.
18 items
Makes your own editable copy. No account needed.
The items
- First cut of spring, blade set highScalping the first cut stresses grass that's only just woken up.
- Mower blades sharpenedA blunt blade tears grass tips, which then turn brown within a day.
- Edges trimmedSharp edges make a lawn look kept even between mows.
- Moss raked out or the lawn scarifiedBest done in early spring or early autumn, not the height of summer.
- Lawn spiked or aeratedHelps water and feed reach the roots on compacted soil.
- Spring feed applied, high in nitrogen
- Weeds spot-treated rather than blanket-sprayedKeeps the treatment off anything you don't want it on.
- Bare patches overseededBest done in autumn, when the ground is warm and rain is more reliable.
- Mowing height raised through summer heatLonger grass shades its own roots and copes with dry spells better.
- Watering held off unless the drought is prolongedA brown lawn is usually dormant, not dying.
- Autumn feed applied, low in nitrogenBuilds roots for winter rather than leaf growth that then gets frosted.
- Fallen leaves cleared regularlyLeft in place, they block light and the grass underneath yellows.
- Final cut of the year, before growth stops
- Mower serviced and put away for winter
- Edging tools cleaned and dried before storing
- String line kept for cutting straight edges
- Worm casts brushed, not raked, when they appearRaking while wet just smears them across the grass.
- Drainage checked where water sits after rainA boggy patch each winter is worth digging in grit or sand to fix.
Makes your own editable copy. No account needed.
Questions people ask
- When should I scarify the lawn?
- Early autumn, while the grass still has time to recover before winter, or early spring as growth restarts. Doing it in summer heat or winter cold leaves bare patches.
- How often should I feed the lawn?
- Twice a year is enough for most gardens — a high-nitrogen feed in spring for growth, and a low-nitrogen autumn feed for roots, not leaf, before winter.
- Should I mow in a drought?
- Raise the blade height and mow less often rather than stopping altogether. A lawn that goes brown in a dry spell is usually dormant, not dead, and greens up again with rain.