The day and nighttime temperatures are starting to come down as we approach the beginning of autumn.

The cooler temperatures mean that it is the ideal time to tackle a lawn renovation. 

With the amount of rainfall that we had this spring and summer, our lawns did not go through that brown, dormant period that they sometimes do. 

So, at least they are not as stressed and in need of as much work as they normally would. 

With that said, there are still some things that you can do to set your lawn up for success.

One chore that we usually associate with a spring chore is aerating our lawn.

Who of you reading this has heavy, clay soil? I imagine that most of you have your hand raised. 

If so, you will know how hard it is to even get a shovel into the ground. That is because the clay particles are so small that they pack together tightly, forming large clumps.

With less porous space in the soil, there is less oxygen available to the roots. Oxygen in the soil is vital for healthy root growth to occur. 

Aeration is a process where small cores of soil are removed out of the lawn area allowing more oxygen to reach the roots. 

By taking out cores of soil in the fall, it allows the fall rains and melting snow during the winter to penetrate the soil better. 

Another fall activity is dethatching your lawn.

Thatch is the layer of slowly decomposing grass stems, dead roots and debris that accumulates above the soil and below the grass blades. 

When does thatch become a problem? If it is thicker than a quarter-inch.

A thick layer of thatch will hang onto the moisture, stopping it from getting to the roots, and it will also stop the nutrients from getting down to the roots. 

Thatch is usually more of a problem in acidic soils or where high-nitrogen fertilizers are used too frequently. 

Also, because of the amount of rain we received this summer, the lawn really didn’t go through the usual dormant period in July and August. 

So, with the extra amount of cutting we did, there is more decomposing grass blades that have been returned onto the lawn.

Dethatching should be done just before vigorous growth either in the fall or spring.

To check if you have a thatch problem, cut out an inch-by-inch section of lawn and lift it by sliding a spade just under the roots and examine that corky, brown layer in between the roots and grass blades.

To dethatch your lawn yourself, you can purchase a dethatching rake, which has stiff, diamond-shaped teeth, or use or garden rake (not fan rake).

As you pull it through the lawn it will pull out the brown, decomposing material (it also serves as a very good workout). 

Now is also a great time to reseed your lawn.

Making your lawn as dense as possible is the best way to curb weed growth. Wherever there is a bare spot, nature will fill it in with a weed.

Grass seed germinates best when the air temperature is around 15 C. Make sure you choose a type of grass seed that is right for your light conditions.

You will usually see grass seed sold as a mix of different types of grass. For a sunny area, you want a higher percentage of Kentucky bluegrass. 

For a shadier location, you want to buy a mix with a higher percentage of fescue grass.

The first step in reseeding is to mow the lawn. Next, topdress the lawn by spreading a thin layer of topsoil or triple mix or compost over the area. 

This will provide a loose medium for the seed to start rooting in to. Sow the seed.

Keep soil moist until the seed has begun to germinate, which usually takes 10 to 14 days.  

Making a little effort on your lawn now will make a big difference come spring.

Joanne Young is a Niagara-on-the-Lake garden expert and coach. See her website at joanneyoung.ca