Snip Snip Hooray – Expert Reveals Top Tips Your Lawn Is Thriving Following Its First Cut Of The Year
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As green-fingered Brits finally dust off the mower, lawn and garden experts Flymo have revealed why Sunday, March 22 is the perfect time to show your lawn some love.
Announced as First Cut Sunday by the experts, it’s a reminder of the importance of getting the timing of your first cut of the year just right to ensure your garden remains beautiful and thriving all year round.
According to Michael Holden, gardening guru at Flymo, reaching for your mower any earlier than First Cut Sunday equals bad luck for your lawn. Gardeners risk causing excessive stress to the lawn, leaving freshly cut blades exposed and vulnerable to frost damage.
Any later, he says, and you run the risk of developing a patchy, uneven lawn, shading lower roots which can stunt growth.
But First Cut Sunday is about more than simply tidying up your lawn. According to Michael, timing the first cut with care and precision triggers an incredible wave of biology right underneath your feet, benefiting your entire garden.
“A surprising, little-known fact is that your lawn is actually a bit of a chatterbox, it’s always talking and even defending itself,” he says.
“Grass releases chemical signals when it’s cut. That beautiful smell of freshly cut grass, that’s your lawn sending out distress signals which can prompt nearby plants to boost their own defences.
“Enjoying the longer days, basking in warmer temperatures, all of nature’s subtle signs that spring has well and truly arrived. When this happens, the lawn naturally wakes up from its dormant state, and that’s the key to getting your first mow right.
“There’s nothing quite like the feeling of starting up the mower for the first time, but
your lawn needs that vital sign from nature before we think about its first trim.
“Waiting until the grass is actively growing again means your first cut helps strengthen the lawn, rather than putting it under stress whilst it’s still recovering from winter.”
According to Michael, late frosts are still common in early spring, and cutting your lawn too soon can weaken grass just as it’s emerging from a well-earned rest throughout the cold winter months.
By the end of March, often aligning with the first Sunday of astronomical spring, conditions are typically milder, daylight hours are longer, and the grass is strong enough to respond positively to its first trim.
When soil temperatures consistently rise above 6-8°C, the point at which grass begins actively growing again after a period of rest during the cold winter months, it’s the perfect time to start as you mean to mow on.
“The key to your first mow of the year is balance, waiting for warmer, drier conditions, when the grass has come out of its dormant state. Get this right, and you’ll have that lush summer lawn that makes the neighbours green with lawn envy,” Michael adds.
Despite the excitement First Cut Sunday brings, Michael urges Brits to use the one-third rule to avoid ‘scalping’ their lawns, the biggest mistake people make that can attract disease and weeds.
“The most important thing is waiting until your lawn is about five to eight centimetres high before its first cut of the year, and if you want to be super precise with a tape measure, well, that’s lawn dedication,” he says.
“The second most important thing to remember is during your first mow, you shouldn’t take more than a third off the grass blade in one go. So, if your lawn is around six centimetres tall, you should only be taking one or two centimetres off, with your mower at the highest cutting height.
“That’s why Flymo have made it so simple to adjust the cutting height on our mowers, on our newest cordless models, there’s a simple push and go button with a height indicator, taking the guesswork out of mowing.”
THE DOS AND DON’TS OF FIRST CUT SUNDAY, ACCORDING TO MICHAEL
DO
Always wait until the first Sunday of astronomical spring to avoid damaging your lovely lawn.
Measure your lawn before cutting to ensure you get the one-third rule just right – tape measures at the ready, Brits!
When it comes to leaving grass clippings behind, fine is fine! A light covering of clippings can actually benefit your lawn.
Michael explains: “Light clippings can actually be a great benefit to your lawn, as they are around 80% water and contain valuable nutrients such as nitrogen, so as they break down, they are putting that much-needed goodness back into the soil.”
DON’T
Cut your lawn too early, otherwise you’ll have bad lawn luck all year round!
Don’t leave that first cut too late either, otherwise you risk ending up with a patchy, uneven lawn.
It may be tempting to cut your grass extra short and get your garden looking tidy, but don’t! Scalping your lawn can do more harm than good, inviting unwanted diseases. Resist the temptation to cut your lawn extra short – a gradual trim will benefit your lawn so much more.
Always avoid leaving thick clumps of clippings behind; these can suffocate soil, and can create damp conditions that moss and diseases thrive in.
GREEN FLAGS THAT YOUR GARDEN IS THRIVING
“Your lawn is actually an excellent communicator,” says Michael.
“You just need to know what to look out for. A healthy lawn in spring should have an even colour, feel springy underfoot and show steady, consistent growth.
“When you mow, it should respond by thickening up rather than thinning out. You’ll also notice fewer weeds creeping in – dense grass naturally crowds them out.
“If you want a simple test to help gauge how happy and healthy your lawn is, tug at a small handful of grass. If it resists and feels well anchored, that’s a sign of strong root development. If it lifts easily, the roots may still be shallow or stressed.
“Ultimately, if your lawn can handle that first cut well, bounce back quickly and continue to grow evenly, you’re off to a strong start for the season ahead.”
