Whether you’re dusting off your washing line, lifting the covers from your garden furniture or contemplating what plants to prune, one of the single most transformative jobs you can do first in your garden is to cut your grass.
As the cold snap lifts and we welcome milder temperatures and sunnier days, many of us are ready to fire up our lawnmowers and get to work.
But when exactly is the best time to mow your lawn?
Head gardener at Exbury Gardens, Thomas Clarke, tells us that “Between mid-March and mid-April is generally the best time to start cutting your grass.”
He explains that you should wait until the risk of the last frosts has passed and temperatures are consistently around seven to 10 degrees.
The last frosts refer to the average last day that the temperature drops below zero degrees. So, depending on where you are in the UK, timings might differ.
This tallies with guidance from the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), who recommend mowing your lawn for the first time once the weather is mild enough and your grass begins to show signs of growth.
What happens if I mow too early in spring?
According to Clarke, if you mow the lawn too early, you risk cutting into the new growth.
“Grass grows from the bottom-up, so fresh shoots develop low down, close to the ground,” he explains. “If you cut it too short at this stage, you can damage those new shoots and put the lawn under stress.”
He adds, “It’s also often not warm enough for the grass to grow properly, which means it can’t recover quickly. Cutting it too low before it’s actively growing creates opportunities for weeds and moss to take hold, as they can take advantage of the weakened, slow-growing grass.”
Temperature is the most important sign to consider before cutting your grass this spring.
(Kate Wieser via Getty Images)
Mowing too early leaves grass shoots vulnerable, especially if there’s a chance of frost.
If this happens, it can damage the young shoots, interfere with growth and, in some cases, lead to disease and bare patches.
How frequently should I mow once growth begins?
“Generally, once you’ve done the first cut, you should mow every two to three weeks,” Clarke reveals.
He explains that it’s important to keep the grass at a relatively high setting throughout March and April to avoid “scalping” – damage caused by cutting grass too low. As the weather becomes warmer, you can gradually lower the mower height and increase it to about once a week.
Clarkle points out that the key to a healthy, dense lawn is to mow little and often, highlighting that, because grass grows from the base rather than the tip, regular mowing can actually encourage it to grow and thicken.
If you mow the lawn too early, you risk cutting into the new growth.
(OlenaMykhaylova via Getty Images)How much grass should I cut when I first mow my lawn?
“You shouldn’t be mowing more than a third off the grass during your first cut or two,” Clarke says.
If you cut your grass down too much, you run the risk of causing stress to your lawn. This can result in yellowing, reduced growth and a lack of protection against weeds, moss and drought.
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