2 days Ago By Katherine McPhillips
Now that the sun is out, gardeners will be getting their mowers out to give the lawn a much-needed tidying up. However, many people do not realise they are cutting their grass wrong, which is leading it to become brittle and weaker. Hollie, an expert from the Big Blog of Gardening , has shared that one major mistake lawn owners make is cutting their grass far too short in spring.
She said: “If your grass is overgrown, it’s tempting to cut it down to the perfect length in one go, but that’s a quick way to stress it out.” Lawns are at the heart of any property, so it can be tempting to completely cut the grass down if it is looking unkempt and overgrown after winter. In spring, it is incredibly important not to cut the grass short as it needs its blades to photosynthesise and store enough energy to grow strong after the cold weather.
When grass is scalped, it hinders its ability to produce energy and grow deep roots, which means the lawn will not be able to retain any water. Once the weather heats up, this will result in patchy yellow grass that will dry up quickly and need to be watered constantly if you hope to get it a vivid emerald green again. It will also mean the lawn is much more vulnerable to weeds and fungal diseases, so you will likely spend the summer trying to maintain it gand et it healthy again.
If you want to save time and keep your lawn healthy in spring, then simply be careful how much you cut off the lawn. Hollie said: “The rule of thumb is to mow only a third of the blade’s height at a time. If your lawn is extra long, trim it down gradually, giving it a few days to recover between cuts.
“Cutting too much at once can weaken the grass, making it more vulnerable to heat, disease, and weeds Only mowing one-third of the grass height will protect the grass roots so the lawn stays strong and well-nourished throughout spring." You also do not need to do lots of yard work at once, and taking the time to do a little a day is much better for the garden as it gives grass more time to recover after each cut. Hollie said: “Instead of scalping your lawn, space out your mowing over several days.
This gives the grass a chance to bounce back without putting it under unnecessary stress. It might take a little longer, but your lawn will be healthier for it.” Not doing too much at once and taking the time to be careful will ensure you get thick, healthy grass throughout the warmer seasons while only having to put minimal effort in.
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