Lawns are the primary focus of gardeners throughout the summer, but when it ends, attention should shift to other forms of care.
Raking leaves and keeping weeds at bay is one thing to think about in addition to the important question – when to stop mowing.
As the days get colder and the leaves start to fall from the trees, grass growth slows down. Gardening expert Fiona Jenkins of MyJobQuote.co.uk has shared the exact time you should do the final pruning in your garden.
He said: “As the seasons change, you start to notice that your grass starts to slow down.
“When the first frost comes, it’s usually a clear sign that it’s time to put the mower in storage until next spring.”
According to Fiona, it is “best” to stop mowing the lawn in the fall. He elaborated: “The last cut should be between the end of September and the end of October. The timescales can vary depending on where you are in the UK and the climate in your area.
“For a more specific time frame, I recommend paying close attention to your lawn to determine when the last cut is best.”
As a general rule, the clearest sign of making the last cut is when the grass has stopped growing and the ground is still dry.
Gardeners should continue mowing the lawn every week or two until the grass stops growing.
According to Fiona, technology is also important. He suggested, “For the last cut of the season, you want to make sure you cut the grass as short as possible.
“The lawn can continue to grow for some time after the last cut before the frost slows down the growth. If the grass is cut short, further cuts are avoided until next year, even if the lawn grows a little.”
As for what to do before the final cut is due, Fiona said now is a “great time to get rid of the unsightly weeds in the lawn”.
Doing the groundwork for unwanted growth now effectively “stops them in their tracks” and avoids larger uprooting when spring comes.
In addition, trimming the edges is another valuable task. Fiona explained: “When edging is well maintained, it creates a barrier for plant roots and prevents weeds or flowers from sprouting into your lawn.”
