Garden lovers, you might want to park your lawnmowers soon as autumn’s chill means grass growth grinds to a near-halt. It’s all down to the mercury dipping below 10C, when grass practically stops growing.
Figuring out the perfect time for that one last mow before winter can be a bit of a puzzle. Trimming the lawn too late could damage it, but waiting not long enough might leave you with untidy tufts in the frost.
To help people across the UK avoid lawn woes, gardening guru James Ewens from Green Feathers has dished out his top tips for when to give your greenery its final snip, taking into account the average temperatures, daylight shrinkage, and usual weather quirks of each region.
Here are the proposed deadlines for your city’s last lawn cut:.
For Londoners, it’s suggested to wrap up by late October, while Mancunians and Brummies should target anywhere between late October and early November. Leeds, Liverpool, Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Newcastle also fall within that timeframe, reports the Express.
If you’re in Bristol or Cardiff, aim for late October to keep your turf in top shape. Ewens bases his recommendations on a mix of factors, such as what the thermometer’s likely to read in the months ahead.
He said: “As temperatures drop, grass growth slows significantly. Once the average daytime temperature consistently falls below 10C, it’s generally safe to stop cutting.”
Diminishing daylight, a known curb on photosynthesis, is another reason our lawns lay low. The weather can play its part too, with unexpected warmth or wetness sometimes prolonging the grass’s growth spurt, whereas an early freeze might mean an earlier end to mowing duties.
He added: “Microclimates within different regions of the UK can affect the timing of the last cut. Coastal areas, for example, may experience milder winters than inland regions.
“The goal should be to give your lawn one last cut before it goes dormant, which is impacted by the factors mentioned above along with the type of grass, but after it has stopped growing significantly.
“By timing your last cut of the year perfectly, your lawn can enter the winter season with a healthy and lush appearance and a strong root system, laying the foundations for healthy growth and a quick recovery in spring.”