October lawn care in temperate areas

Once the lawn is clearly growing again, give it its first feed at the rate on the label. Water granules in straight away unless the label says otherwise, and sweep any off paths and driveways. After a cold winter this can be mid spring; don't rush it.

• When should I fertilise my lawn?
• Liquid or granular fertiliser?
• What does NPK mean?
• How to use and calibrate a broadcast spreader
• Applying liquid fertiliser
• Lawn Area Calculator
• Product Application Calculator

If the lawn was left long over winter, bring it down over several mows rather than one hard cut. Scalping a lawn as it wakes up leaves it yellow or brown for weeks.

• How short should I mow buffalo?
• Why is my buffalo going yellow?
• Spring lawn care guide for Australian lawns

Look for brown patches where the turf lifts like carpet, and birds digging in the lawn. Lift a section of turf at the edge of a patch and check for C-shaped, creamy white grubs in the root zone.

• How do I know if I have lawn grubs?

Run each sprinkler zone, fix leaks and broken heads, and do a catch-cup test to see how much water each zone delivers and how evenly. Then set run times with the Sprinkler Run-Time Calculator.

• How long should I run my sprinkler?
• The catch-cup test: measure what your sprinklers actually put out
• How much water does a lawn need?
• Sprinkler Run-Time Calculator

If water pools or runs off and a screwdriver is hard to push into moist soil, core aerate once the lawn is actively growing. Skip it where a pre-emergent is working unless the label allows it.

• Spring lawn care guide for Australian lawns

Mow often enough that you never take off more than a third of the leaf at once. Keep shaded areas a little higher than sunny ones, and keep the blade sharp so it cuts cleanly.

• How short should I mow buffalo?

Pull or spot treat winter grass before its seed heads drop seed into the lawn for next year. Then plan an autumn pre-emergent.

• Why does winter grass keep coming back?
• Can I pull out winter grass by hand?

Roughly circular yellow or brown patches in mild, humid weather can be brown patch. Water in the morning so leaves dry during the day, and avoid overwatering.

Water rules can change with the season and with dam levels. Check your water authority's current rules before you set your controller for the warmer months.

• Watering under restrictions

Clover makes its own nitrogen, so it thrives where the grass is hungry. Feeding the lawn at the label rate helps the grass compete.

Rings of darker green grass, sometimes with mushrooms or dry grass, are fairy rings. Water deeply where the soil in the ring stays dry.