A gardening expert has warned against mowing your lawn without performing three vital checks as the UK enjoys a spell of warmer weather.
After the UK experienced its rainiest start to a year since 1908, temperatures across the country rose this week as millions of Britons soaked up the sunshine.
While gardening enthusiasts might think this is the perfect time to tend to unruly lawns, experts at MyBuilder.com cautioned against breaking out their mowers just yet.
James Lewis told the Daily Mail that it’s crucial to check that your lawn is dry enough to cut, adding that three simple tests can save you hundreds of pounds in machine repairs.
‘Many of us will be itching to mow our lawns, as this year’s rainy conditions led to early growth,’ he said. ‘But there has been so much rain, gardens have become deeply waterlogged, and despite surface appearances, the ground may not be dry enough to withstand a cut yet.’
While regular cutting is essential for a healthy garden, mowing when the grass is wet is counterproductive because it’s ‘impossible to get an even cut’.
‘You will end up with a messy cut, or the mower may miss blades of grass entirely, leaving you with patches of totally unmown lawn. Worse still, these tears in the blade leave your lawn vulnerable to fungal infections, which thrive in wet conditions.’
James recommends performing a few simple and effective tests before dusting off your lawnmower, including the ‘squelch’ test.
A gardening expert has warned against mowing your lawn without performing three vital checks as the UK enjoys a spell of warmer weather
‘How does your lawn feel underfoot? If there’s any element of squelch, then it’s too early to mow,’ he explained.
Other things to check are whether your footprints remain in the soil after walking; even a faint imprint means the ground is not firm enough for a mow.
Finally, the screwdriver test involves pushing the tool into the ground you’d like to mow.
‘If there’s no resistance, the ground is still too soft to cope with mowing,’ James added.
If you really can’t resist mowing in March, James suggests sharpening the mower blades to increase your chances of getting a clean, even cut on your lawn.
‘This is important at all times, but especially so when cutting wet grass,’ he said.
Additionally, make sure you set the cutting blades as high as possible. This will help to stop clogging of your blades, as well as minimise any damage to your grass plants.
‘Before you start to mow, do your best to remove any water from your lawn. You can use a hosepipe to do this by dragging it across the lawn in a “squeegee” effect,’ he added.
Once you’re done, clear up any clippings and move them off the lawn immediately.
James advised: ‘Leaving the cut grass will decrease oxygen to the remaining plants. Be cautious with using a rake if the ground is saturated, as it could pull up plants with the soil underneath.’
Other tips include regulating your speed to minimise the load on the mower, which helps reduce the risk of damage to the machine.
Finally, make sure your mower is thoroughly cleaned after use, removing any clogs of grass. Leave it to dry in a well-ventilated area before putting it away.
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Is it too soon to mow the lawn? Expert reveals what will happen if you cut the grass now – and the simple test that could save you hundreds of pounds in machine repairs
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