A lush, healthy lawn doesn’t take a winter holiday — but feeding it during an unusually wet December requires a bit of care and timing. Excessive rainfall can create challenging conditions for grass, soil, and nutrients, so understanding how to manage winter feeding helps protect the lawn through the cold months and sets it up for strong spring growth.

December is typically a dormant period for most UK lawns, meaning grass growth slows significantly. However, when the month is exceptionally wet, the soil often becomes waterlogged. This can dilute or wash away nutrients, leaving the lawn looking pale or tired. Despite this, you should avoid applying standard granular fertilisers in very wet conditions. Heavy rain can cause the product to run off rather than absorb, leading to waste, uneven feeding, and potential damage to nearby plants or drainage systems.

Instead, if your lawn needs support in a wet winter, opt for a gentle, slow-release winter lawn feed or a liquid seaweed tonic. Liquid feeds are more easily absorbed, even in damp soil, and help strengthen the grass without forcing growth that cold temperatures can’t support. Seaweed treatments, in particular, boost root health, improve stress tolerance, and enhance the lawn’s resilience through winter.

Before applying any feed, always check the soil condition. If it is squelchy underfoot, flooded, or heavily saturated, hold off until it has dried slightly. Feeding during true waterlogging can suffocate the roots and encourage moss.

Clearing fallen leaves and debris is also essential, as wet, shaded areas can quickly become breeding grounds for moss and fungal diseases. A light winter aeration — using a fork or aerator to relieve compaction and improve drainage — can further help the lawn cope with persistent rain.

With the right approach, feeding your lawn in a very wet December can support root strength, prevent winter decline, and prepare your grass for a vibrant spring recovery.