Monty Don shares the lawn aeration method that needs to be completed now the weather is changing

Although summer is over, there's lots to get done in the garden this season, not only to keep the space thriving but to ensure your plants survive the winter months. And your lawn is no exception.

Whilst you might not have yet added autumn lawn care tips to your list of gardening jobs to get done this October, it's important to not completely neglect your grass. With the incredibly dry and hot summer we've had this year, your grass has probably taken a bit of a beating, so it's more crucial than ever to give it some attention.

So, before the overly wet weather arrives, gardening professional Monty Don, presenting on BBC Gardeners' World, has instructed homeowners to get outside and aerate their lawns.

Don't make a common autumn gardening mistake and assume all your lawn care is over for the year; there are still some pretty important tasks to get ticked off to ensure your grass thrives through the winter months too.

"Now that we've had some rain, the ground is soft enough to aerate any lawns or mown grass. Use a fork and simply stick it in regularly as deep as you can," begins Monty.

"Give it a good wiggle to open the holes up, then get some sharp sand, spread it generously over the area that you've aerated, and brush the sand in firmly with a stiff broom," he adds.

"This will improve drainage and aeration over winter," Monty explains.

Having a good lawn aerating tool, no matter what form it is in, is essential for a gardener's toolkit. The type of aerator you buy and use really depends on the size of your lawn. If you have a vast rolling lawn, then we'd definitely recommend investing in a motorised one.

However, if that's not the case, a small garden tip would be to pick up a garden fork or aerator shoes, which are great if you don't want to bend over or use a large tool.

And it's worth getting the right tool, as you'll need to aerate your lawn more often than you may think, so it's better to be prepared!

Along with your lawn care this season, it's a good idea to learn how to help wildlife during autumn too, as this is a time of year when food sources and shelter can be difficult to find for critters outside.