How Often Should I Mow My Lawn?

Everyone who owns a garden will know that mowing the lawn is an essential garden task. 

The pleasant aroma of freshly cut grass is usually an indication that summer is on the way, but it’s important to ensure that you’re treating your lawn in the best way possible. 

As a general rule, between the months of March to October, you should cut your grass fortnightly if the weather allows. 

This will keep your lawn looking its best, as well as preventing weed growth and encouraging denser turf. 

In this article, the team here at R&J Landscapes will explain the best ways to mow your lawn to keep it at its best all year round. 

When to start cutting your lawn

The first cut of the year is an almost symbolic task, ushering in the warmer weather and, hopefully, bidding farewell to the colder months. 

There is no exact date for when it’s best to start, instead use your best judgement to assess the conditions and temperature. Aiming to do your first cut of the year just before the weather starts warming up is your best bet, and this could be the last week of February or the first week of March. 

Keep the blades of your mower high and aim to just take the top layer off the grass for your first cut. This will stimulate growth and encourage a thicker coverage, which prevents weeds from appearing.

As mentioned earlier, as a general rule it’s a good idea to cut grass twice a week between March and October, should conditions allow. 

However, you can make some adjustments to your lawn mowing routine depending on the season.

• Spring and Autumn – During these seasons, cut your lawn fortnightly as highlighted already in this article. Some people choose to get involved with No Mow May during the month of May, an annual event that encourages people to not cut their lawns for the entire month. This is to stimulate the growth of wild plants, attract pollinating insects and support local ecosystems.    

• Summer – In the summer you might want to cut your grass a bit more regularly, as lawns tend to grow quicker during this period. Once a week is enough, but if you’re going through a long dry spell you should actually stop cutting the grass. A good way to tell that you should stop cutting the grass is if it begins turning yellow. This is a sign the lawn is stressed and trying to conserve energy. If your grass turns yellow or brown, do not cut it until its green colour has been restored.  

• Winter – You do not need to cut your grass during the winter months. However, if the temperatures remain mild, it’s worthwhile maintaining the fortnightly cut until they fall to a more normal seasonal range. This is because the mild temperatures will still encourage growth. Never mow your lawn if the grass is frosty, frozen, wet or when the ground is very soft.   

When should you stop cutting grass?

As mentioned above, usually between November and February it’s unnecessary to cut your grass. 

With this in mind, your last cut of the year should be just before winter approaches. Again, use your best judgement on when to stop; if in the middle of winter, a week of higher temperatures appears, feel free to get the mower back out of the shed and give your lawn a once over. 

During the winter months, it’s also a good idea to give your mower a quick clean, making sure it will be in good working order for spring when you’ll start using it more regularly again. 

Mowing a wet lawn

As every Brit will know only too well, not every summer is dry and hot. 

In fact, a summer shower, or downpour, is all too common in the UK.

Therefore, people may be tempted to cut their grass when the lawn is wet. 

However, this should be avoided at all costs.

These days, most people have electric lawnmowers, and electricity and water should not mix. By mowing your lawn when the grass is wet, you run the risk of electrocution which could cause serious injury or even be fatal. 

As well as electrocution, mowing wet grass increases the risk of slipping over and sustaining an injury, damaging your mower and creating an uneven, messy look. 

At R&J Landscapes, we supply our customers with quality artificial grass products that look fantastic all year round. Artificial grass requires no mowing and little maintenance, meaning you won’t need to worry about its upkeep and can focus on enjoying your outdoor space. We also provide a whole host of landscaping services to our customers across Watford, Harrow and the surrounding areas. To find out more about what we do, get in touch with our team today.