Exact date to start mowing your grass in March and the ‘best’ height to cut it
Now March is here, many Britons will be getting out in the garden to mow their lawns after a long winter. However, with the weather remaining cold and wet, many gardeners will want to know when to start mowing their lawns and the correct height to cut their grass.
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March marks the beginning of the gardening season for many Britons as the weather and the ground warm up. One task gardeners will be desperate to do is mow their lawns, with many waiting until now to give their lawns their first cut of the year.
However, with the weather remaining cold and damp, many Britons might be left wondering whether they should start mowing their lawns and what length they should be cutting their grass.
To help gardeners out, MyJobQuote’s gardening expert, Fiona Jenkins has provided all the answers you may need for mowing your lawn this spring.
When to start cutting your lawn after winter
Fiona said: “It’s most likely that you will need to start cutting the grass in March.
“However, the local conditions, location of the property, and the weather conditions will affect the date that you should start cutting the lawn.”
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March 18 is the average date of the first lawn cut in the UK. But your grass will start to grow when the ground temperature is above 6C.
When making your first cut, take a small amount off the top of the grass first; less than a third is usually the perfect amount.
Cutting too close could put stress on the grass, resulting in shallow roots and a lawn that’s more susceptible to disease, drought and bare patches.
As the lawn continues to grow rapidly, you can take more off the length in the following weeks.
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It’s best to cut grass later in the day so that any potential frost has thawed and dew has evaporated. Trimming lawns when they’re wet should also be avoided.
Wait a few days before trimming lawns if it’s been raining or if the soil seems heavy.
The correct height to cut your grass
Lawns are “best kept” at around 2.5cm to 4cm in height.
Fiona added: “If there are patches on your lawn that get quite a lot of heavy use or that are stepped on regularly, these can be left a little longer at around 4cm to 5cm.
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“In shady areas of the lawn, you can leave it even longer at around 7cm to 8cm.”
When mowing lawns, gardeners should try to avoid “scalping” their grass. Fiona said this is “one of the most common mistakes” people make.
Some gardeners will choose to cut lawns shorter to prolong the length of time between cuts but this can damage the lawn, putting excess stress on the grass.
This, in turn, can make lawns more susceptible to diseases, drought and pests.
Fiona added: “As a general rule, it’s best to try to keep your lawn at a height of three inches.
“This will ensure it retains its top growth and stays strong enough to deal with everything nature throws at it.”