After months of rain, snow and frost, it’s likely your lawns are looking a little worse for wear.
With March slowly approaching, temperatures rising and the days getting longer, many gardeners will be looking for ways to neaten up their gardens.
One of the best ways to improve your garden in winter is to give lawns a good cut. Luckily, three experts have shared their advice on when and how to cut lawns in winter without damaging your grass.
Johanna Elvidge, head of domestic design at Marshalls said gardeners can start mowing their lawns now but they need to make sure the conditions are correct.
Johanna said: “When March arrives, you’ll likely notice that your grass will begin growing much faster than it was over the winter.
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“However, the weather can fluctuate in March, so you need to pay attention to this and tend when needed.
“If you find yourself with a dry day, you can start mowing your lawn from late February to early March, however, you only want to do this a couple of times throughout March to allow for effective regrowth.
“Avoid scarifying your lawn during March, it’s better to wait until the weather is warmer to do this.”
Gardening expert and managing director of Hedges Direct Jamie Shipley agreed that February is the best time to start preparing lawns for spring.
In February, grass is still in its dormant state which means gardeners need to keep the blades as long as possible so they can photosynthesise sunlight.
He said: “February temperatures can vary, but if it’s mild and dry, you can give your lawn a mow if it needs tidying.
“However, raise the blade height to the highest setting to avoid cutting too short.
“Mowing very close to the sward weakens grass growth as there is less leaf surface area to take in oxygen and sunlight, slowing root development.
“By mowing your lawn on a low setting, the blade could even damage the crowns of the grass plants, weakening the lawn and 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.”
Paul Hicks, product and marketing manager at STIHL GB, said gardeners need to also clear their lawns of leaves at this time of year, especially before mowing lawns.
Layers of leaves on lawns can starve the lawn of sunlight and oxygen, meaning it may struggle to recover when spring rolls around.
He continued: “Using a leaf rake can be time-consuming if you have lots of leaves in your garden.
“A battery-powered leaf blower means you can clear outdoor areas in no time.”
