How Long After Cutting Your Grass Should You Wait Before Cutting It Again

Once spring arrives, some of u.s.a. will exist looking to mow the lawn and starting time getting ready for the showtime grass cut of the yr. This means dusting off the lawnmower and gardening tools to prepare for the season ahead. Merely when should nosotros mow the lawn for the starting time time in a twelvemonth and what important things should we consider ?

Our garden lawns play an important part in our al fresco summertime enjoyment – they host parties, provide a space to play, relax and read, and offer our borders and flora a plain backdrop from which they tin can shine. Therefore, it'southward crucial we get the commencement grass cut of the year just right to set our lawns up for a summer of apply. Hither are some practical tips from Flymo and Country Living on how to mow the backyard for the first time this year.

When should you mow the lawn for the first time that year?

In 2022, 'First Cut Sunday' – a term coined by Flymo equally a good date to cut your lawn for the first fourth dimension since winter – falls on Sun 20th March. Have a look at all the tips you demand before yous cut your grass this year...

**1. Don't mow all of your lawn**

Cull the function yous'd similar to be neat and tidy but then let the rest stay a little messy. This is much better for wildlife and will encourage habitats to flourish throughout summer. You could even plant some wildflower seeds hither and brand it a existent visual feature of your garden (Cornfield seed collection, BUY NOW).

"Don't mow all of your lawn. Find a corner of your garden where yous tin allow it to become, dare I say it, a little bit unkempt," implored Chris Packham during an interview with Country Living almost bound gardening. "That long grass will provide food for butterflies and other invertebrates and shelter for other animals – perchance even something as exciting as a hedgehog."

ii. Consider a mow path

In the spirit of helping wild fauna, do you need a whole area to exist mown or could a pathway leading through your wildflowers be plenty? Remember that a rich garden ecosystem tin can proceed pests nether control naturally.

iii. Have a pre-cutting tidy

After months of being starved of sunshine, your garden may wait a little neglected. It's important, earlier your start grass cut of the year, to accept time to clear any mess around the area yous wish to mow, including dead sticks, leaves and any rubbish that may have gathered.

Check to see what is hiding in the garden; the likes of stones and thick branches may accept made their way into the overgrown lawn and if the lawnmower catches these, it can damage the mower blade. Keeping the mower blade sharp is vital as the damage a tedious blade tin crusade could be detrimental to the grass.

Don't become rid of what you lot've collected. Add together it to your wilder are as natural debris makes bang-up habitats for wild animals.

4. Check for nesting animals

Bank check the surface area you are about to mow for any animals that might take made information technology their home during winter. Hedgehogs can often exist found in piles of grass and leaves. If you lot practice find a habitat, consider mowing a dissimilar part of the lawn instead and leaving it be.

five. Don't leave information technology likewise late

Although the difference in climate can vary depending on where you lot are in the land, research has shown that the starting time ii weeks in April are the nigh popular fourth dimension to dig the lawnmower out for the showtime grass cutting of the year.

Billy Currie Photography Getty Images

6. Apply the 1 third rule

When mowing your backyard for the kickoff time, you lot should e'er follow the one third rule: Never cutting more than than a third of the blade of grass off in i get. Cut more this can stress the grass.

You should gradually reduce the grass length over a number of weeks to reach the desired length. Cutting the grass too brusque, too fast, is known as 'scalping' which can lead to illness and weed infestation.

Flymo explain: "If your lawn has been a little unkempt throughout the colder months and has grown with a mind of its own then fear not, withal follow the one third dominion but take information technology in stages over a number of weeks. Gradually subtract the cut tiptop on your lawnmower each time to reach your preferred grass length."

vii. And if your grass is really out of control?

If your lawn has been a little unkempt throughout the colder months and has grown with a mind of its own and so fearfulness not, however follow the one tertiary rule but have it in stages over a number of weeks. Gradually subtract the cut height on your lawnmower each fourth dimension to achieve your preferred grass length.

But only apply this to the smaller area yous'd like to maintain, every bit mentioned higher up. Embrace the wildness in the rest of the lawn and let information technology to flourish.

8. Contour your garden

Don't forget about the edges when cut your backyard for the starting time time. Overgrown edges can look cruddy and can mean time and effort spent working in the garden has been in vain. Trim the edges straight after mowing.

Front of wheelbarrow with grass clippings from the lawn

capecodphoto

9. Don't water immediately after

Information technology'south best to avoid getting into the habit of watering your lawn immediately after mowing. There is no specific point in the month to give your backyard a hose down – it should just be done whenever it needs wet – however, in that location are a few guidelines on what time it should be done during the day:

Watering belatedly in the evening or at night tin can lead to fungal problems due to the fact the grass doesn't have fourth dimension to dry out.
The middle of the day tends to be when the sunday is at its hottest, which can lead to the water evaporating instantly or the droplets acting every bit a magnifying glass, burning the blades of grass.
Therefore, the best time is first thing in the forenoon as the air is cool and the water can travel to the roots before drying upwardly.

x. Know how long to get out a new backyard before cut it

New grass that has been grown from the seed will exist noticeably weaker than the residual of the lawn and can be easily damaged if cut incorrectly. It's best to wait until the grass has grown over three inches in length until mowing for the starting time time to let information technology time to build up strength.

xi. Go far a habit

Post-obit your first cutting of the flavour, you may need to mow the maintained part of your lawn in one case or twice a calendar week to maintain the length you desire. This is due to the warm weather condition encouraging your garden to grow.

12. Choose your tool wisely

Information technology'south important to remember that no ii lawns or gardens are the aforementioned even if they are adjacent. Take into consideration the status and size of your lawn, and your gardening needs when choosing the all-time tool for the chore. Cull an electric lawnmower over a petrol one for the more eco-friendly selection.

13. Utilise the cuttings to brand hay

RHS Primary Horticulturalist Guy Barter says that allowing our cuttings to turn into hay is slap-up for seed-eating birds. He explains: "Go out the summertime mown grass in place for a few sunny days to become 'hay' and release seeds to refresh the backyard for adjacent twelvemonth and also provide food for seed-eating birds and other wild animals. The 'hay' can and then exist removed and composted."

fourteen. Or compost your grass cuttings

"Removing and composting all grass mowings also supports wildlife past reducing soil fertility," continues Guy. "Running down fertility, assuming no fertiliser is applied, leads to turf condign more sparse which allows room for wildflowers, particularly clovers, and wildlife."

15. Don't forget to service or bank check your lawn mower

Subsequently months of sitting in the shed, your backyard mower may be a little rusty. Don't forget to bank check for chipped or blunt blades — these will bruise the grass. Likewise as this, remember to clean yours out regularly to remove a build-up of clippings. The better you lot take of your backyard mower, the longer it will last.