UK lawns benefit from feeding twice a year: a spring feed around March to April to kick-start growth after winter, and an autumn feed around September to October that builds root strength rather than leafy growth, helping the lawn survive winter and green up faster the following spring.
The two feeds use different nutrient balances. Spring feed is higher in nitrogen for leaf growth, while autumn feed favours potassium and phosphorus for roots rather than top growth that would just get killed off by frost anyway.
ELawnCare does not sell or apply feed products, but advises on timing as part of the renewal service, and a feed applied after aeration and overseeding gives new seed the best possible start.
Written by Evaldas, owner of ELawnCare. Last reviewed .
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Applied once the grass is actively growing, usually March to April in Cambridgeshire, a spring feed pushes leafy growth and green colour after a dormant winter. A slow-release granular feed spreads the nutrients over several weeks rather than dumping them all at once, which suits most domestic lawns better than a fast-acting liquid.
An autumn feed, low in nitrogen and higher in potassium and phosphorus, strengthens roots rather than encouraging leaf growth that would be wasted going into winter. This is the feed that matters most for a lawn's resilience through frost and for how quickly it recovers the following spring.
Feeding straight after aeration and overseeding, when the soil is freshly opened, gets the nutrients to the roots more effectively than feeding a compacted, untreated lawn.
Spring, around March to April, for leafy growth after winter, and autumn, around September to October, for root strength going into the cold months. A lawn fed at both points through the year copes better with summer stress and winter dormancy.
After. Scarifying opens the soil surface, and feeding or overseeding straight afterwards gets nutrients and seed into contact with soil rather than sitting on a layer of thatch that blocks them from reaching the roots.
Yes. Over-feeding, especially with high-nitrogen products, pushes soft, fast growth that is more prone to disease and needs mowing more often. Two considered feeds a year, spring and autumn, suit most domestic lawns far better than frequent small applications.
ELawnCare does not sell or apply feed products directly, but advises on timing and type as part of the renewal service. A slow-release granular feed from any garden centre, applied after aeration and overseeding, gives the best result.
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