If you’re a keen gardener, you’re probably thinking about when to retire your trusty lawn mower or strimmer until spring, now the colder months of the year have arrived.
Brits are currently being urged by garden experts to stop cutting their grass over the next few weeks, with some key dates in mind, to avoid significant damage to their outdoor spaces, such as suffocating the roots.
To make sure you keep your grass in good health in the damp and frosty weather, here are some trust tips to follow, according to lawn care enthusiasts.
Why do leaves change colour in autumn?
When should you last cut grass before winter?
During autumn (from September onwards), people should reduce the mowing frequency back to bi-weekly as the growth rate of the grass will gradually begin to decrease, shares Lucie Bradley, gardening expert from Easy Garden Irrigation.
You should aim to give your lawn its last cut of the year in late October/November as during the wintertime, below temperatures of 10 degrees, grass does not typically grow.
Throughout the winter months, it is usually not necessary to mow the lawn as the colder temperatures typically halt any grass growth.
In fact, during frosty periods, mowing can damage a lawn as this can compact the soil and suffocate the roots.
As part of David Wilson Homes’ new annual lawn care guide, Lucie explained: “Different weather conditions throughout each season affect how quickly grass regrows.
“Grass typically grows best when the soil and air temperature reach above 6C, which usually occurs from March to November in the UK.”
Lucie added: “Infrequent mowing leads to weak growth, making the lawn less durable. It can also cause the lawn to dry out faster, meaning it will require more maintenance to keep its bright green tones.”
“Alternatively, frequent mowing prevents the grass from establishing a strong root system, increasing vulnerability to weather extremes and weed infestation.”
Want to know how long you should cut your grass before winter comes?(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
What to do to your grass in autumn?
If you want to know how to care for your lawn during autumn, Lucie advises it’s important to aerate.
“It’s good practice to aerate the lawn once to allow for better drainage during the wet and stormy winter months.
“Often in the summer, we spend a lot of time in the garden walking over the lawn, which over time can compact the soil.
“This can lead to poor drainage in heavy rainfall, leading to water pooling on the surface, which can starve the grass of essential nutrients.”
Autumnal Equinox explained
Should I leave my grass long or short for winter in the UK?
Jason Wilkinson, founder of Qwickhose shared that gardeners should aim for a length of around 2 to 2.5 inches (5 to 6cm).
This will provide sufficient protection without causing any issues during winter in the UK.
Additionally, Chris McIlroy, in-house lawn seed expert at The Grass People agreed: “Mowing your grass too short can leave it vulnerable to the cold weather.
Recommended reading:
“We advise gardeners to keep their grass around 2.3 to 3 inches tall during the winter months.
“This length provides enough surface area for photosynthesis while preventing snow mould and root damage from setting in.”
Have you given your lawn its last cut of the year or are you holding on? Let us know your autumn and winter care tips in the comments below.
Comments are closed.