Leaf the autumn works to us

As autumn arrives, planning and preparing your grounds is key to keeping your outdoor areas in the best condition. Heavy summer usage leaves pitches and green areas worn, whilst falling leaves, wet weather and cold temperatures begin to put pressure on pitches, horticulture and potentially your buildings.

To ensure your facilities remain safe, functional and as aesthetically pleasing as possible, maintenance throughout autumn is essential. From pitch care to winter preparation, here's how we protect your grounds during this season.

Why autumn maintenance matters for your grounds

Booking in autumnal grounds maintenance ensures that your site stays safe, presentable and usable. By preparing your grounds for autumn, long-term issues can be addressed and managed which can help to minimise costs later in the year.

With sports pitches often taking the brunt of summer sport and activities, they can be left with worn patches, compact surfaces and thinning grass by the time autumn settles in. This makes autumn the ideal time to repair and refresh your sports pitches. Whether it’s topdressing or aerating, we can support your site and ensure pitches remain playable and better equipped to withstand winter weather.

Unpredictable weather is an infamous part of the autumn season. This can bring an increase in debris, mud and leaves, all of which can cause hazards and impact your site’s appearance. Regular maintenance can ensure the safety, accessibility, cleanliness and aesthetics of your grounds.

Although cold, autumn can also create some of the best conditions for planting projects, as soil begins to retain warmth and moisture levels increase due to the unpredictable weather – a great environment for strong roots to establish themselves.

Additional, less common work can be carried out to further prepare your site for the demands of the changing weather, dependant on your site’s specific needs.

Where we come in

Grounds maintenance in autumn can not only protect your green spaces but can even improve them. Our teams deliver a wide range of services throughout the autumn months, including:

• Pitch maintenance – Regular spiking and slitting of football pitches to improve drainage and ensure that they remain safe and playable during the season. Sanding goal areas also helps maintain level playing surfaces.
• Tree and hedge planting – Planting during autumn can allow trees and hedges to establish their roots and grow even stronger come spring.
• Leaf clearing – This helps to prevent slippery surfaces that may become hazards, blocked drains and longer-term damage to grass areas.
• Litter clearing – Keeps your outdoor areas safe and welcoming.
• Shrub bed renovations – This could involve infilling gaps or replacing shrubs that didn’t survive the summer, or even a full replant.
• Edging – Edging alongside paths or doorways can prevent mud being tracked into buildings.
• Repairs to grassy areas – Reseeding can restore areas that have been worn down in summer.
• Salt supply – Creating or restocking a supply of salt in case bad weather hits will allow you to keep your site up and running, and reduce the risk of falls.

At Landscape Services, we know that this transitional time of year can be challenging for your grounds. We see this as a time to not only protect your outdoor areas and buildings, but as a chance to improve them. By navigating this season with planning, you can reduce risks, protect investments and create safe, welcoming environments for staff, students and any visitors on your property.

Want to know more about our seasonal services? Get in touch with us here or on 01622 236655.