Gardening expert shares the exact time you need to stop mowing your lawn to protect it over winter

AFTER mowing your grass religiously for weeks during the summer, there comes a time when you stop for winter.

Grass cutting is an essential task during the spring and summer months, when the warmer temperatures cause lawns to grow thick and long.

However, you should stop cutting the grass over winter, when it grows less, as overcutting can prevent it from growing back.

And there’s a simple trick you can do to find out when is the time, according to gardening professionals at Yell.

The experts said: “The shorter days throughout winter mean fewer hours when your lawn is exposed to the sun and photosynthesising.

“This is essential for strong and healthy grass, ensuring a green and luscious lawn throughout the year.

“If you overcut your grass, this will reduce the service area of each blade of grass, reducing its ability to grow and nourish itself.”

The experts advised playing close attention to the local weather forecast.

They said: “The final mow should align with the grass, stopping its growth, typically between October and November, as temperatures drop. 

“However, with the fluctuating seasons and warmer winter sun now common in the UK, this can sometimes extend growth into December.”

The experts advised looking at the long-range weather forecast for your area, and if you spot a significant drop in temperatures, make sure to do the final cut before the cold spell.

In the south of England this is likely to happen later than in the north, when temperatures are usually slightly colder.

And if the temperatures stay high well into December, the experts urged Brits to follow a simple rule.

The Yell team said, “If your grass continues growing during winter, cut it once it exceeds three inches in height.”

They continued: “When mowing, avoid removing more than one-third of the grass height at a time to maintain healthy growth.”

When doing the final mow, gardeners are urged to remove all lawn clippings from the grass because it could damage your lawn.

Layers of grass clippings can block light from reaching the grass underneath, which can lead to dead patches of lawn, that don’t get the nutrients needed.

Wet clippings can also create a breeding ground for mould and lawn diseases.

Gardeners should also make sure to reseed bare patches of grass in the autumn, and should apply lime to the grass to help regulate its PH.

October gardening jobs

The Sun’s Gardening Editor, Veronica Lorraine, has shared the jobs you need to tackle in October.

“It’s a good time to trim deciduous hedges – like box, yew, hawthorn, hornbean and beech – plus hedge trimmers are a great upper body workout!

Make leafmould – gather up all the fallen leaves and fill either bin bags or plastic carrier bags. Seal the top, stick a few small holes in the bag – and then store for a year or more. Free compost!

It’s unlikely you’ll get any more red tomatoes so have one final harvest and chuck the plants on the compost. See if you can get the green ones to ripen by putting in a drawer (some say with a banana). Also keep the seeds from a couple – and plant again next year if they went well.

Finish getting in your spring bulbs. Ideally you’d have done daffs and alliums, but tulips are better in the ground when the soil temperature gets a bit colder. 

It’s good to leave some plant litter in the ground – it adds to the nutrients as it rots down, and provides shelter and food for insects. But remove the manky brown bits collapsing all over the lawn/winter structure. 

Mulch – it not only suppresses weeds, but keeps the soil warm, improves water retention and adds a little winter duvet to your outside space. 

October’s a good month for carrots, peas, asparagus, broad beans, and rhubarb.”