As the Spring Equinox promises warmer days on the horizon, an expert has issued a warning to gardeners eager to get their lawns ready for the summer.
Clair Albone, a gardens specialist at Wickes, warned people shouldn’t give into the temptation to mow the lawn instantly as the days get longer – because they could be doing more harm than good in the long run.
‘Though the longer days and promise of warmth are tempting, it’s important to resist the urge of cutting lawns too soon,’ she tells the Daily Mail.
‘Waiting until after the last frost is crucial, as cutting grass too early can harm delicate new growth and leave your lawn vulnerable to damage from unexpected cold snaps.’
She revealed that the cold weather typically passes between mid-March and early April, at which point gardeners can begin tending to their lawn.
However Clair stressed: ‘The weather needs to be consistently dry and above 10 degrees for three days to be able to start mowing.
‘This approach is key to unlocking the best possible results for a beautiful lawn this spring.’
Below, Clair shares her top tips for getting your lawn ready for spring.
Clair Albone, a gardening specialist at Wickes, has revealed her top tips to get your lawn ready for the warmer months. One process she recommends is scarifying with a rake (stock image)
Preparing the lawn
Give your lawn room to breathe ahead of spring by sweeping aside leaves, twigs an debris left behind from winter.
This will allow air and light to reach the grass and the soil which will then kickstart early growth.
Another consideration at this stage is feeding the lawn with nutrients. Clair recommends investing in a compost bin and a soil aerator to keep your soil as healthy as possible.
Combatting moss and weeds
Following a damp winter, moss is common in the UK, having enjoyed months of perfect conditions for it to grow.
Moss is a bad sign for the growth of lawns as it can suffocate the grass and hinder growth.
Clair recommends early intervention to deal with moss and weeds as the temperatures begin to rise – and says a process called scarifying is the best way to do this.
Scarifying is the process of vigorously raking your lawn to pull out moss, shallow-rooted weeds and thatch.
For best results, Clair recommends adding a fertiliser to the lawn after the scarifying process is complete.
Finishing touches
Once the lawn has been prepared, Clair says, the cutting can commence. It is best to first go over the lawn on a high setting.
And to tidy up at the end of the first mow, Clair recommends using an edger and using edging strips as a guide.
