Lawns will be green in spring if you remove 1 thing that suffocates grass in October

As temperatures drop and leaves begin to fall, many people stop mowing the lawn and leave their grass to fend for itself until spring. But autumn is actually one of the most important times of the year for lawn care, and skipping a few simple tasks now could lead to problems later on.

While it may feel like your grass has stopped growing, it's still active in October, especially in milder regions where temperatures stay above 5C. That means now is the time to make your lawn stronger and healthier for the colder months ahead, and to stop a common issue that can weaken it fast.

According to gardening experts, there's one thing that should never be left sitting on the grass in autumn, as it cuts off air, light and moisture.

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) warns that if this one thing is ignored, it can "smother the grass" and leave it looking patchy, brown, and weak by the time spring arrives.

That problem is fallen leaves, which can build up fast and cause serious damage if left alone.

The RHS explained: "Remove fallen leaves from lawns so they don't smother the grass, blocking out light and moisture."

The experts recommend using a rake to clear the lawn, or a leaf blower for larger areas.

Clearing leaves is just one part of a wider set of autumn lawn care tips.

The RHS says gardeners can still mow the grass in October, but they should raise the cutting height to between 2 and 4cm to avoid stressing it.

Mowing can also help remove weed seedlings in new lawns.

If the soil isn't too wet or frozen, now is also a good time to scarify and aerate the grass to help with drainage and airflow.

Afterwards, an autumn lawn feed rich in potassium and phosphorus can encourage strong root growth and disease resistance.

New lawns can still be laid or sown in warmer parts of the UK, but cooler regions may already be too cold for good germination.

The RHS says seed should only be sown when the soil temperature is at least 8C.

As autumn progresses, problems like algae, toadstools, waterlogging, and fusarium patch can also affect lawns, but regular maintenance and monitoring can prevent these from becoming bigger issues.

For more lawn tips and advice, click here.