Mowing the lawn is the most important part of your lawn care regime.
The time of year as well as the weather affects how often you should mow as well as just how low you should cut your lawn each time.
In this article, we’ll explain when to cut the grass depending on the season.
Our Suggested Lawn Mowing Calendar
The best time typically varies depending on where in the UK you live; if it’s warmer or colder, for example. If we’re talking about England specifically, then this schedule will be typical for someone living in the middle of the country – but again that might vary based on how warm or cold it is.
The mowing calendar for lawns is usually March through to October with a slight variation on either side due to seasonal and geographical factors. If you live in the southern half of England, it’s a good idea to start two or three weeks before someone living up north does to account for these climate variations.
March
The first signs of grass growth usually appear in March, so give your lawn its first cut of the year in this month. If you don’t see any growth, wait a little longer.
You’ll want to make sure that when you do mow your lawn, you only take off about 1/3rd (or less) and be mindful not to trim too low where a moss invasion could occur and stunt further growth if rain occurs. Learn how to mow long grass in my guide.
Mow only when there has been no rainfall for 2 days or more.
April
April marks the real start of your lawn’s growing season. Temperatures are rising and rain is falling which make for the perfect growing conditions.
The first thing you should do is cut at least every 10 days or more depending on how quickly your grass grows. Never mow it when wet.
If you wish, you can start reducing the height of your lawn to find the perfect length.
It’s important to reduce height gradually – don’t remove any more than about one third of the grass blade’s length because doing so makes the leaves weaker and prone to lawn disease. Cutting grass too short is the worst mistake you can make.
May / June
With spring in full swing, your lawn should now be at your desired length.
You might need to increase your mowing frequency to once every 5-7 days or so, but again, be sure to limit the cut to a 3rd of the total length.
July / August
When the weather heats up and rain becomes less frequent, grass growth will slow down. Take your mowing schedule back to every 10 days in order for it to not die of thirst or get choked out by weeds.
Cutting the lawn too short now could take away vital food stores that give grass its ability to survive drought; don’t be tempted to cut too short. We suggest increasing the height of your mower if in drought conditions.
If you have a mulching lawn mower and your lawn is weed free – periodically mulch grass clippings during this part of the year so they can recycle their nutrients and water content into the lawn.
September
September marks the start of autumn and with it, rain. Despite this change in temperature there is still plenty of sun which makes for excellent growing conditions.
To maintain a healthy lawn during late summer, make sure to mow the lawn every week. If your lawn has received plenty of water, you can also reduce the height of your mower.
If you suffer from lawn moss, keep your mower at a higher setting.
This regular trimming will encourage grass growth at the base of the plant which will protect your lawn and reduce moss and weed growth.
October
Mowing usually stops in October, as you probably won’t mow your lawn again until springtime. The grass will likely be cut for the last time this year and you want to make sure it can store as much food over winter as possible, so keep its height on the high side.
November to March
If you wish, your lawn can be be mowed to keep it looking neat and tidy over winter. But you don’t want to cut the grass when its frosty or if there is a chance of snow due in your area as it will damage the grass. Be sure to wait for a dry day when the ground is firm .
If you do mow at this time of the year, make sure to cut only the very top of your lawn.
If you’re not sure, just leave it until March.
Final Verdict
Mowing your lawn is one of the most important parts of owning a home.
Different times of the year call for different height settings on your lawn mower. Mowing too often and too little can both be detrimental to the health of your lawn, so follow our guide and we guarantee you’ll be giving your lawn the best chance of success.
