Yahoo News Gardening experts warn of 'worst time' to mow your lawn that can kill your grass
With No Mow May almost over, it's nearly time to fire up the lawn mower again - but before you get cutting your grass, it's worth knowing how best to approach it to ensure your green spaces stay looking luscious this summer.
Gardening experts recommend mowing your lawn weekly throughout the warmest months of the year to encourage denser grass growth and keep unwanted weeds at bay - but did you know that the time of day you cut your grass can also make a significant difference to its health? Just like there's a best time to water your plants, there's an optimal time to get out with your lawn mower to keep your grass looking its best.
According to experts at Fantastic Gardens, while there is "some debate" as to how important it is to cut your grass at a specific time, most professional gardeners agree that between 8am and 10am yields the best results. "Grass needs the benefit of the day to dry and heal before dusk settles," the experts explained, while mowing earlier or later can damage your lawn.
Gardeners are urged to "avoid" cutting grass first thing in the morning before 8am, as it will usually be wet from morning dew, rain or irrigation. The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has previously warned that the worst thing you can do for your lawn is to mow it when it's wet, as it can damage your turf and compact the soil.
Equally, getting your lawn mower out at midday between 12pm and 2pm is not advised, as this is when the sun is at its highest and hottest, meaning your grass will lose more water and take longer to recover. This also carries the risk that your lawn will burn in the sunshine, leading to unsightly brown patches.
While the experts recommend that the afternoon between 4pm and 6pm is the "second-best time of day" to cut your grass, any later than this is a big no-no according to Fantastic Gardens. "By cutting your grass during this time you risk exposing it to disease and fungal infections, and the grass won’t have enough time to recover before nightfall," the experts explained.
As well as choosing the right time of day to cut your grass, the way you mow can also help your lawn to grow well. A gardening-loving dad previously shared a little-known trick to get "thick and healthy" green spaces - and it simply involves changing the direction you mow in each time.
"This can include vertical, horizontal, cross pattern, wavy, it doesn't matter. If you don't do that your lawn will learn to grow sideways like a combover," gardening whizz Bo Petterson explained on TikTok. The RHS seconds this advice, saying that the technique stops ruts from forming in the lawn.
