Let’s cut to the chase. The official UK wisdom says you can start mowing from March, but honestly? That’s a trap. (You thought I’d give you a nice, tidy date, didn’t you? Sorry.)
The real marker is soil temperature and growth. If the grass is barely stretching its legs – say, you’ve only had one proper dry week – wait. A good rule of thumb: when your daffodils are fully out and the neighbour’s cat starts sunbathing on your patch, then you can think about it.
Here’s the hard bit: your first cut should be a very high cut. Set your mower blades to the highest setting. I’m talking about leaving the grass at 4-5 cm. Think of it as a haircut, not a scalp job. If you go low, you’ll scalp the crown of the grass plant, and it will throw a sulk for weeks. (And trust me, a sulky lawn is a mossy lawn.)
What About the Weather? (Because it’s the UK)
You know the score: a sunny morning can turn into a monsoon by lunchtime. Never, and I mean never, mow wet grass. It clumps, tears, and leaves your mower looking like it ate a green smoothie and threw it up. Plus, you’ll leave horrible ruts.
If you’ve just had a week of rain and the ground feels like a wet sponge underfoot, put the kettle on. Mowing waterlogged soil compacts it, which is the opposite of what healthy grass wants. Wait for a few days of drying wind.
When can I start cutting my lawn again? | Homes and Gardens
