Many gardeners may not think lawns need much maintenance now that autumn is here, but before you put away the mower for the rest of the year make sure to feed it the right fertiliser. 

It is important to fertilise lawns in October to help prepare the grass for the harsh winter weather and giving the proper nutrients now will ensure it stays green and strong for next year.

Mary Hunt, a money-saving expert and founder of Everyday Cheapskate, has shared a simple way to get a healthier lawn without breaking the bank. 

She said: “I love a beautiful yard, but I hate spending a lot of money to get it that way, which explains why I am always looking for cheap do-it-yourself ways to kill weeds, grow flowers, and feed lawns.”

The secret to giving lawns a boost is to mix your fertiliser with Epson salt, a natural mineral which builds up proteins in plants and also encourages strong root development. 

Epsom salt is commonly as a bath soak but it contains a lot of nutrient magnesium, a crucial needed for plants to absorb sunlight and produce energy. 

Sprinkling Epsom salt into your lawn fertiliser will help grass continue photosynthesis more efficiently so it can absorb more nutrients before it goes dormant in winter. 

This will encourage roots to grow stronger so you have more resistant grass that will recover quickly once spring arrives so you will have lusher and greener grass next year. 

How to use Epsom salt as a homemade lawn fertiliser 

Epsom salt should be used as a supplement and is not a replacement for fertiliser as lawns still need a high amount of the nutrient potassium to withstand the frost and fight against disease. 

Make sure to buy a fertiliser high in potassium but low in nitrogen, as this nutrient promotes grass growth, but you want the lawn to focus on becoming hardy with strong roots for winter rather not new growth that will be vulnerable to cold damage.

Once you have bought the fertiliser,  all you need to do is mix the Epsom salt in and spread it across your lawn. 

Mary explained: “Mix four pounds of magnesium sulfate (Epsom salt) in a giant bin or bucket with a bag of your favourite lawn food that covers 2,500 sq. ft. Now feed your lawn the same amount of this mixture as recommended on the lawn food bag. 

“You’ll save a lot of money because you’ll be using only half the normal amount of fertiliser. Plus, this formulation cuts down on the nitrogen which makes your lawn grow so fast.” 

The ideal time to fertilise your lawn is a few weeks before the ground freezes, which is between late September and mid-October depending on where you live in the UK. 

Having Epsom salt in your lawn will mean you will have a much greener, lusher and healthier grass once spring arrives. 

Mary added: “You’ll have the wonderful deep-green color, better root structure, and you won’t have to mow as often.”