Rake the thatch out of your lawn

Now’s the perfect time to get your lawn back into shape after summer. Rake out any thatch then use a fork to aerate the lawn, which allows air, water and nutrients to reach the grass roots. Sink a fork in. Working in straight lines, preferably after a rain shower, push the fork deep into the soil every few feet. (If using a hollow tine aerator, leave any small clods of soil to dry on the surface.) Top dress with sand. Brush this into the holes to improve drainage. Apply an autumn feed. Make sure you use a low-nitrogen autumn fertiliser that won’t encourage lots of lush growth. See our Buyers’ Guide p95 for more