Summer is finally here and if your lawn has suffered over the long winter, now is a great time to get it back up to scratch. However, if you want to get on top of gardening now the days are longer, gardening expert Peter Mortin from Crane Garden Buildings says there are certain times of day when it’s crucial to leave the grass alone.
He said:”As the weather gets warmer, many Brits are going to tend to their lawns after a lengthy, and especially cold, winter. However, it’s important to not be hasty and start mowing as soon as the balmy temperatures make an appearance.” If you want to get out in the garden, it’s best to do so in the evening as the sun starts to set.
Mortin said: “Mowing your grass when the sun is going down is the best way to maintain a healthy lawn. The times to avoid mowing are in the early morning, as the grass blades will still be dewy and more likely to develop fungus problems (such as Anthracnose), and in the early or mid afternoon when temperatures are highest.
“Mowing when the weather is warm and sunny can actually cause your grass to turn brown, and it will take some time for it to grow healthy again.”
Another common mistake over-zealous gardeners can make when cutting their lawns in preparation for spring is taking off too much at once.
Over the colder months, your grass may have become overgrown but it’s important not to trim it right back in one go.
This is because grass needs to be able to photosynthesis and cutting it too short will impact its ability to do so, resulting in dry patchy and yellowed grass when the sun heats up.
If you want to prevent this, make sure to leave your grass a few days to recover in between mowing so it can grow to its full potential.