As the weather warms up, many gardeners can’t wait to rev up their lawn mowers and get to work on their lawns. However, one gardening expert is warning against a common mistake that could harm your turf. Michael Griffiths, with over 4 million followers on social media, has shared a crucial tip to avoid damaging your grass.

A Common Lawn Mowing Mistake

• The mistake of scalping the lawn, which involves cutting the grass very short to stimulate growth
• Aiming to set the mower to its lowest notch, but this can leave your lawn vulnerable to drought and weeds
• Failing to maintain the same height throughout spring, which can lead to moss taking hold

The Dangers of Scalping

Scalping the lawn, a technique aimed at spurring growth by cutting the grass very short, can clear away dead grass, thatch and debris while allowing the soil to heat up more quickly. However, if not done correctly, it can have negative consequences for your lawn.

“Spring’s here, but don’t start scalping your lawn. Try to keep your grass the same height throughout spring and avoid mowing it too short as that can make it more susceptible to drought and weeds, and moss can take hold,”

— Michael Griffiths

Recommended Mowing Height

Michael recommends keeping your grass at a height of around 4cm throughout spring. For areas in the shade, it’s best to keep the grass slightly longer, between 1-2cm higher.

• For most lawns, a height of 4cm is recommended
• For areas in the shade, keep the grass slightly longer, between 1-2cm higher

When to Mow New Lawns

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) advises that grass should be maintained at about 4cm tall during spring, autumn, and winter, while in the summer it’s best kept at around 2.5cm. For new lawns, it’s recommended to hold off on mowing until the grass reaches at least 5cm in height.

1. The Royal Horticultural Society recommends the following mowing heights:
2. 4cm during spring, autumn, and winter
3. 2.5cm during summer

Additional Spring Tasks

A gardening expert shared additional essential tasks for spring, including feeding and pruning roses to ensure better blooms, transplanting forced blooms into garden borders, potting lilies and other summer-flowering bulbs, and tackling weeds before they become established.

• Feed and prune roses to ensure better blooms
• Transplant forced blooms into garden borders
• Pot lilies and other summer-flowering bulbs
• Tackle weeds before they become established

Expert Tips

Michael Griffiths and other gardening experts offer additional advice on lawn care, including the importance of using a nitrogen-rich lawn feed to encourage top growth.

• Nitrogen is crucial for vibrant green grass as it aids in the formation of proteins that the cells within the grass need to grow
• Using a nitrogen-rich lawn feed can help promote healthy growth

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Gardening experts warn against common mistakes, such as using autumn lawn feed high in phosphates and mowing too high in nitrogen, which can lead to thatch build-up and moss growth.

1. Avoid using autumn lawn feed high in phosphates
2. Avoid mowing too high in nitrogen, which can lead to thatch build-up and moss growth

Conclusion

By following the advice of gardening experts, such as Michael Griffiths, you can ensure a healthy and thriving lawn this spring.