Six lawn mowing tips you must follow to prevent bad grass – and the exact date to give the lawn its first cut this year

WITH the temperatures finally warming up, many green-fingered Brits will be racing to work on their gardens.

But before you dash outside to take the lawn mower out, there are a few things to remember - don't listen to them and you risk getting bad grass this Summer.

1

The exact date to give the grass the first cut of the year

According to plant pro Chris Bonnett, the founder of GardeningExpress.co.uk, there is also a perfect time you should give the grass its first trim of the year.

Chatting to the Express, the whizz said that for the most part, mid to end of March is the best time for this because the weather tends to be warmer and the grass is no longer dormant.

Tips and tricks to follow

Only cut the grass when it's dry

However, Chris also advised to keep checking the forecast to ensure the weather is dry - as cutting wet grass could not only leave you with a patchy lawn but also destroy the machine.

If you’ve had rainy days in your area recently, the expert advised to best wait until the grass has completely dried in order to prevent compacting the soil.

Blades on the correct setting

Chris said: “To prevent causing damage to your lawn, make sure that the blades are on a high cut setting, otherwise you will weaken your grass and attract weeds and moss.

Take care of the wildlife

“You may also consider leaving a little corner in your garden uncut to provide food and shelter for the wildlife.”

Sharpen the blades

To ensure the first mow of the season is perfect, Chris also urged to sharpen the blades properly - this will leave for an even and neat cut.

Get rid of any rubbish

Another key thing to remember is to clear any twigs, fallen leaves or rubbish that may have accumulated during the winter months.

According to the gardening pro, this step should not be skipped - or green-fingered homeowners could end up damaging their lawnmower.

He instructed: “Set the blades on the highest setting and give the grass a light trim only, making sure you don’t cut down more than a third of the grass’ height.

"This will promote grass growth without damaging it or attracting weeds.''

If you notice that the lawn is wet, avoid walking or mowing it to prevent soil compaction - compacted soil hinders water, air, and nutrient transport, making it more difficult for grass to grow.

Trim the grass more frequently

After you've completed the first mow of the season, the plant whizz recommended to repeat the process every two weeks during Spring - and then make it into a weekly routine once we move closer to Summer.