After a summer of back-to-back heatwaves and scorching sunshine, the autumn rains are upon us and it's a good time to tend to summer's sun-scorched patches and dry, thatched grass, bare spots caused by garden furniture and heavy footfall.

Autumn is the best time to breathe life back into your grass and a crucial period ahead of the winter frost, according to Tom Rowley, a former groundsman at Leicester City FC and now a leading authority on football pitch care for the Grounds Management Association, which supports groundspeople across the UK.

"Even professional pitches take a beating during summer, especially when it's hot and dry," says Rowley. "But September and October are ideal months to rejuvenate a tired lawn. The soil is still warm, moisture levels start to rise and grass is nat

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