Mowing the lawn is a common task during the summer months, but how should you care for it when the leaves start to change?
GB News shares exclusive tips on caring for your lawn as the weather gets colder.
For most people, mowing should stop during the winter but don’t give up too early – it is worth continuing this task well into the autumn. October could be the ideal time to cut the grass for the final time, according to resident botany expert at Plantum Julia Omelchenko.
She said: “Lawn mowing is a routine in summer. But in autumn, once the soil cools down, the grass starts growing slower, needing less trimming. However, this doesn’t mean no lawn mowing in autumn whatsoever.
The lawn has different requirements at different times of the year
GETTY
“Although grass grows slower than in summer, it still needs to be cut. And if you don’t mow it before winter, it’ll wither and lie on the soil, hindering new sprouts from emerging in spring. So, mow the lawn before the first frost.
“The time of the last mowing before winter depends on your climate. Usually, it’s best to mow it in early October. In southern regions, winter starts later and in the north, it may already snow in October.”
Cutting the grass too short or completing this task when the weather is too cold can be damaging so looking at the first frost can be a good indicator.
The expert said: “Ideally, you should mow your lawn two weeks before the first frost when the daytime temperature drops below 10°C.
“However, if the temperature suddenly increases after the first days of frost and plants resume active growth, you’ll need to repeat the mowing.
“In winter, there is no need to mow the lawn. Once the temperature drops, the lawn grass stops growing.”
The experts warned gardeners against cutting their grass too short and shared advice for finding the perfect length.
Julia continued: “Your lawn should be 3.5 inches (8cm) high in winter. This is optimal for it to preserve nutrients. I recommend cutting the lawn so that it’s two inches (5cm) high. This way, it’ll reach the optimal 3.5 inches (8cm) before the first frost.”
When should you start mowing your lawn?
Britons will enjoy a gardening break during the winter months but will need to tend to their lawns again come spring.
The expert explained: “You’ll need to resume mowing at the end of spring. It’s hard to say what is the best time to start mowing again. On average, I recommend starting in May, but you need to take the height of the grass into account.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
You should stop mowing the lawn before the first frost, experts state
GETTY
“Once it reaches three to five inches (10-15cm) in height, you can cut it. You need to leave three inches (8cm) of grass after the first mowing in spring. Next time, you can leave two to 2.5 inches (4–6cm) of grass.”
How to care for your lawn
To get your outdoor space looking its best, Julia recommended following some key tips. She said: “Apply a granular fertiliser just before the rain or a few hours after watering. The soil should be moist before fertilisation to avoid burning the grass. If it didn’t rain or the rain was too scarce, water the soil manually before fertilisation.
“Aerate the lawn before winter and treat it with a systemic fungicide in October as a preventative measure against fungal diseases. I don’t recommend walking on the lawn in winter, as you risk compacting the snow.
“This can lead to icing of the lawn when the temperature gets high and the snow starts to melt. Check the lawn once every seven to 10 days for the condition of snow, grass, and the presence of an ice crust.”
Looking for more gardening tips? See the GB News guide on how to care for your trees at this time of year. Or find advice on how to care for your garden plants in autumn.
