For many people, the arrival of warmer weather signals that the first lawn cut of the year is just around the corner. But how do you know when is the right time? Are there any signs that it is time to dust off the lawnmower or should you just cross your fingers and hope for the best?
Even with thebest cordless lawn mowers, there are definitely better times than others to mow the grass. In this quick guide we explain how to tell when your grass is ready for its first haircut after winter. We've also been chatting to the experts to gather together their advice on the best ways to make this first cut to ensure that your lawn looks its best and stays healthy — you want to give it the best chance of thriving as the sunnier seasons approach.
When should I do the first lawn cut of the year?
Just as there is abest time to scarify lawns, so too are there recommended times to start mowing.
According toFlymo(opens in new tab), the grass cutting season in the UK typically starts around mid-March to early April as the weather begins to get a little warmer.
TheRHS(opens in new tab)suggest mowing regularly from March through to October.
That said, there is no magic sign that today is the day you must drop everything and get cutting. For many people, keeping on top of mowing is something that must be carried out throughout the year and this is certainly what many experts advise.
"Don’t lock the mower away for the winter months, not if the grass is still growing, however slowly that may be," says David Hedges Gower, Chairman ofLawn Association(opens in new tab)。“你割草的目的是保持健康manageable grass-height. So frequency of mowing is governed by how fast it is growing. Mid-growing season you can expect to cut at least once a week. Mid-winter, if it’s a mild one, you may be cutting once a month."
Can I mow wet grass?
You've decided that your grass is crying out for its first cut of the year, wake up, open the curtains and its pouring down — what do you do? Most experts agree that the best course of action is to delay the job until another day.
"Cutting your lawn when it’s wet is never recommended if you plan on using an electric lawnmower," says Flymo. "As the saying goes: water and electricity never mix! Apart from the obvious safety concerns regarding grass becoming slippery when wet, especially when cutting banks or slopes, mowing your lawn when it is wet can also damage your lawn and prevent it from looking neat and tidy."
Even with thebest petrol lawn mowersthis is a job best left until a dry day — wheels can leave unsightly muddy ruts in your grass and you risk compacting the soil too.
The RHS' experts agree saying that you should never mow if the ground conditions are very soft, wet or frozen. You can read more on 'Can I cut wet grass?' in our piece on the topic
How short should I mow my lawn in the spring?
If you are keen not to ruin your well tendedlawn ideas, when giving your lawn its first cut of the year, you don't want to go too short initially.
"When first mowing your lawn, avoid cutting more than 20% off the top of your grass at once," say Flymo. "Grass is a living organism, and lasting damage can occur if it’s cut too short. To achieve the grass height you’d like, it’s better to reduce the cutting height gradually over a few weeks to minimise stress and damage to your lawn."
However, other experts suggest using your common sense and just bearing in mind that you don't want to go too short with the first cut.
"There’s a rule of thumb people quote – I’ve used it myself many times – never cut more than one-third off the current length," says David Hedges Gower. "But this actually comes from the sports turf world and isn’t actually very helpful to gardeners — how often do you want to go around with your ruler before cutting?"
Finally, if you are wonderinghow to get rid of moss in lawns, you should know that cutting your lawn too short is amongst the possible causes of excessive moss growth.
How often should I cut my grass?
Once that first grass cut of the season has been made, just how often should you aim to mow thereafter?
In order to keep your lawn in the best condition, minimise weeds and encourage denser turf, the RHS say that you should mow either weekly or fortnightly between the months of March and October.
Flymo's experts agree. "By the end of June to early July, you should mow the grass once a week to maintain a pristine lawn," they say.
And finally, once you do get back into the swing of mowing your lawn regularly, be sure to take good care of your mower to get the best results.
"As with sewing or hair-cutting scissors, you get the best result from a sharp blade, and a progressively poor result each subsequent cut until you sharpen it again," warns David Hedges Gower.
