UK lawn care

The Four Seasons Mowing Guide

Mow mid-morning (8–10am) once the dew has dried, and never cut more than a third of the blade at once.

Should I mow today?

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Temperature: 14°CGrass height: 6 cmTarget height after cutting: 4.5 cmThis height is matched to the current season.Mow when the grass reaches about 6.8 cm — never cut more than a third off.

Raining nowFrost on the grassGrass or ground wet

How to check your grass height

No special tools needed — try one of these:

Ruler or tape measure: push it down to the soil in a few spots and read the height of the tallest blades.
Bank card trick: a card stood on its edge is 5.4 cm tall. Grass well above the card is overdue for a cut.
Foot test: if the blades flop over your shoes or touch your ankle bone, it's grown too long.
The one-third rule: mow when the grass is about 1.5× your target height, and never remove more than a third of the blade at once.

Spring

March – May

The lawn wakes up as the soil warms past 6–8°C.

Cut height: Start high, lower to ~4 cm
How often: Every 10–14 days, rising to weekly

✓First cut on dry ground at the highest setting
✓Rake away winter debris and worm casts
✓Scarify and aerate in April
✓Apply a spring feed
✓Overseed bare patches in May

Summer

June – August

Peak growth and use, with heat and dry spells.

Cut height: 3.5–4 cm, raise to 5–6 cm in heat
How often: Weekly

✓Keep blades sharp to avoid brown tips
✓Trim edges for a neat finish
✓Raise the cut during droughts
✓Water deeply once a week, early morning
✓Don't worry about browning — it recovers

Autumn

September – November

The key season for repair and winter prep.

Cut height: 4.5–5 cm
How often: Every two weeks, slowing

✓Scarify, aerate and overseed in September
✓Use a low-nitrogen autumn feed
✓Rake fallen leaves weekly
✓Final cut on a mild, dry day in November
✓Clean and service the mower

Winter

December – February

Growth stops — protect the turf.

Cut height: No mowing
How often: Rest

✓Stay off frosty or waterlogged grass
✓Clear branches, furniture and toys
✓Note where puddles sit for spring aeration
✓Sharpen blades ready for spring

What to do with grass cuttings

Clippings are a free feed — here's how to use them well:

Leave them on the lawn: short, dry clippings from regular mowing break down fast and return nutrients — this is called mulch mowing.
Compost them: mix with dry "brown" material like cardboard or leaves — roughly half and half — so the heap doesn't turn slimy.
Mulch the borders: a thin layer (2–3 cm) around plants holds moisture and feeds the soil. Let clippings dry a day first.
Green waste bin: for long, wet, or weed-seeded clippings that shouldn't go back on the lawn or in compost.
Never dump them in hedgerows or woodland — clippings smother wild plants and can be harmful to horses.
Treated lawn? If you've recently used weedkiller, keep those clippings off compost and borders — bin them instead.

Mowing calendar

The year's lawn jobs, month by month.

January
Rest — plan ahead and book a mower service.
February
Check drainage, sharpen blades, clear debris on dry days.
March
First cut on the highest setting; rake away winter debris.
April
Scarify, aerate and apply a spring feed.
May
Overseed bare patches; mowing rises to weekly.
June
Mow weekly at 3.5–4 cm; trim edges for a neat finish.
July
Raise the blade in heat; water deeply once a week.
August
Keep the cut high in drought — browning recovers.
September
Scarify, aerate, overseed and apply an autumn feed.
October
Rake leaves weekly; cuts slow to every two weeks.
November
Final cut on a mild, dry day; clean and service the mower.
December
Rest — stay off frosty or waterlogged grass.

Blade care & service schedule

Sharp blades cut cleanly; dull ones tear the grass and leave brown tips.

After every mow: brush or scrape clippings off the deck and blade so they don't hold moisture and rust.
Every month in season: check the blade edge. If tips of the grass look torn or white after mowing, it's time to sharpen.
Every 20–25 hours of mowing (about 2–3 times a season): sharpen the blade and check it's balanced — an unbalanced blade vibrates and wears the mower.
Once a year (winter): full service — sharpen or replace the blade, change the oil and spark plug on petrol mowers, and clean or replace the air filter.
Replace, don't sharpen a blade that's bent, cracked, or has deep chips — especially after hitting a stone.
Safety first: always disconnect power before touching the blade — unplug corded electric mowers at the wall, remove the battery on cordless models, and pull the spark plug lead on petrol mowers. Check the cable for cuts or damage before each use, and keep it behind you while mowing.