Gardens are starting to wake up from their dormant winter state which means there’s plenty to be getting on with to prepare for the arrival of spring.
Now that warmer temperatures have arrived lawns will begin to grow again, so it’s important to stay on top of regular maintenance to ensure your grass stays healthy. Keeping your lawn looking lusciously green requires a lot of care and upkeep, and if neglected, it will quickly turn patchy and brown. According to gardening experts, the best way to keep your lawn looking healthy is through regular mowing – but there is an important rule to bear in mind.
While mowing promotes strong new growth, grass that is cut too short will have less leaf area to soak up sunlight and oxygen, and this in turn will slow down root development.
A low setting on your lawn mower can stress the grass plant when it’s cut, not only weakening the roots, but also making it more susceptible to disease, weeds and moss. The result can be a thinner, less healthy looking lawn that can easily be invaded by weeks as they have more space to germinate and flourish.
Perfect Lawn Care explains: “Weeds are far more likely to appear if there are spaces on a thin lawn for weed seeds to germinate. When grass is short it will also suffer more from extreme cold and hot weather conditions because it hasn’t had the nutrients to be strong enough to withstand it.
“Most domestic lawns do not have grasses that are suited to be mowed under 2cm so will likely struggle if cut below this height.”
So to ensure healthier, greener grass that is free of weeds, experts recommend cutting your lawn around once a week in spring and avoid cutting it too short. Instead aim to leave around three centimeters of length when you mow it by setting your lawn mower to a higher setting.
Hedges Direct adds: “By mowing your lawn on a low setting, the blade could even damage the crowns of the grass plants. This would weaken the lawn, increasing the threat from weeds, insects, and disease. Even if you avoid physical damage, short grass provides little shade, exposing your lawn to damaging summer heat or frost in winter.
“For a healthy lawn, we recommend cutting your grass by around 25% of growth during one mow and setting your mower to leave around three centimetres of length.
“Your mower blades must be sharp to ensure the grass is cut cleanly, as dull blades could rip it from the ground. This could lead to your lawn browning, withering or infection.”
