Lawns don’t need to be mowed all year round – here’s what gardeners are being urged to do ahead of the winter months
A gardening expert has offered useful advice for mowing your lawn(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Gardeners are being advised when they should stop mowing their lawns as the colder months approach. Experts are asking householders to keep an eye on the temperatures to inform their decision.
They say your lawn doesn’t need to be mowed all year. In fact, mowing it throughout the colder months may damage your lawn, as well as the mower.
Timothy Greene, at iCANLAWN.com, said: “It is a common misconception that grass stops growing during winter. It only slows down, and therefore, there is no need to mow it.” This comes as experts explained how one particular plant could help to banish slugs from your garden for good, as reported by ChronicleLive.
Explaining further, Mr Greene said: “Grass begins growing at temperatures of 10 degrees and above. So if the day and night temperatures in your area are dropping below this, it’s time to put away the mower.”
In the UK, this typically falls in mid-October, but in southern parts, it could be a little later. This means gardeners should perform the last mow of the season soon, providing it has been dry for a few days prior, reports the Express.
The expert added: “By consulting a two-week forecast, you should be able to forward plan your last mow by paying special attention to temperatures dropping below 10 degrees.” For the last mow of the season, gardeners are recommended to raise their lawn mower to the highest cutting setting.
The lawn pro noted: “Before mowing, make sure to remove any leaves from your lawn so they don’t clog up your mower, and only mow when the weather is dry and there is no frost or morning dew. After mowing make sure to remove any clippings as leaving these on your lawn can cause disease to form.
“After you complete your last mow, it’s a good idea to get your lawn mower serviced. This means your blades will be sharp when spring returns, ready for the first spring mow.”
Allowing the grass to get as much sunlight as possible during autumn is another important job to keep on top of, making sure any blocking shrubs and bushes are cut back. The lack of sunlight can create some unsightly dead spots on the grass, meaning it may not bounce back in spring.
In other advice, householders are being asked to follow some simple rules to help protect their gardens. Experts say that with a little extra care, your garden can remain full of life and colour well into the cooler months.
To help people tackle this shift in season, Alex Biggart, flower expert at 123 Flowers, has shared eight golden rules of autumn gardening, which are outlined here. These should help you revive tired plants and keep flowers thriving long after the summer scorch.
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