The exact date you should start mowing your lawn again after the winter and why you should always use a high setting

IT might seem a bit premature to think about gardening right now – but it’s not. 

Getting your lawn spring-ready in the colder months helps it look luscious and green when the warm weather rolls round. 

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Grass grows when soil temperature reaches above 6 degrees celsius[/caption]

But it’s not as simple as getting the mower out and trimming the ends of slow-grown winter grass – there’s a science to it. 

There’s a specific date coming up in the next few weeks that is the optimum 24 hour window to mow your garden. 

Grass grows when soil temperature reaches above 6 degrees celsius, making it one of the earliest plants to start growing in spring.

It’s likely you’ll need to start cutting your grass during March, but the first mowing date will generally depend on where you live, local conditions and the weather that year.

And according to Woodland Trust Citizen Science Officer Lorienne Whittle, most Brits have found the sweet spot to be on March 18. 

Nature’s Calendar records found that it was the average date of first lawn cut in the UK in data collected over an 18 year period. 

However, some Brits are even cutting their grass all year round due to the milder winters. 

Regional differences are vast, but on average over 7% of our green-fingered Brits on Nature’s Calendar records cut their grass throughout winter.

“The Met Office has estimated that the growing season has increased by at least a month compared to 1961 to 1990,” Lorienne said. 

“In some areas, grass is growing all year round. 

“This is an important indicator of the effects of climate change.”

What about the little guys?

Lorienne also urged Brits to think about our native wildlife before getting the lawnmower out this March. 

“Climate change is not only influencing our mowing regimes, it’s increasing the pressure on our wildlife too and more species are looking to our gardens for food and shelter,” she explained. 

“These mini wildlife reserves can become precious habitats for them to thrive.

“Before you mow, be sure to scout your lawn for any animals that could be harmed. 

“Hedgehogs in particular like to curl up in long grass and may otherwise go unnoticed.

“Alternatively, why not leave some of your lawn to grow longer through the summer to support local wildlife? 

“Perhaps you have an area that could be given over to wildflowers?

“Or try piling grass cuttings with leaves and dead wood in an unused corner to create the perfect place for hedgehogs to hibernate and adult butterflies to overwinter.”