As temperatures begin to rise, it’s important gardeners get the timing right for lawn care and garden maintenance.
The Managing Director of Hedges Direct Jamie Shipley explained that mid-March typically marks the return of lawn mowing season.
Mowing frozen grass could cause unnecessary damage or death
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“As temperatures rise in mid-March, you may notice your grass growing faster,” shared Jamie.
“You can begin mowing again but cut lightly and keep the grass fairly long to keep moisture in during the warmer months.”
However, timing is crucial for the first mow of the season, with Jamie recommending a gradual approach to lawn maintenance as spring progresses.
“Mowing should only be required every two weeks in March and April, rising to once a week in May,” he noted.
Jamie warned gardeners to be cautious about weather conditions before mowing, however, as the consequences of mowing during frost can be severe for your lawn.
“Ensure that temperatures are mild enough, as mowing with any signs of frost on your lawn could cause unnecessary damage when your grass is most vulnerable,” he cautioned.
“This could result in brown, withering grass or even death,” explained Jamie, who recommends keeping grass slightly longer during early spring cuts.
This approach helps retain moisture in the soil as temperatures continue to rise.
Light, less frequent mowing in March gives lawns time to strengthen after winter dormancy.
Following these guidelines will help ensure a healthy lawn, it’s important to keep an eye out for pests which become significantly more active in spring.
“Although pests like slugs and caterpillars are around all year, their activity increases during the warm and wet weather of spring,” Jamie noted, explaining that they pose a particular threat to new growth in gardens.
Regular inspection of hedging plants can help catch early signs of disease
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“Pests are a particular problem in spring as they can kill your new seedlings, destroy new growth in plants and create holes in delicate leaves,” he warned.
Box hedging plants face specific challenges during this season; the fungal disease box blight.
“Box blight is a disease that affects box hedging plants, caused by fungal infections. This results in the leaves of plants turning brown and eventually falling off,” Jamie explained.
It’s important to have preventative measures in place to control box blight. Regular inspection of hedging plants will help catch early signs of disease or pest damage.
