I'm a master gardener – here's why you shouldn't mow your lawn | The Sun

GARDENERS are being advised to STOP mowing their lawns – and it's all for a good cause.

Plantlife, a conservation charity, is advising green-fingered Brits to let their lawns grow for at least a month.

Chief executive Ian Dunn said long grass can help feed essential pollinators like bees and butterflies.

His charity also claimed that 97 per cent of Britain's flower meadows have been lost in the last 50 years.

Mr Dunn said: "The immaculate bright green bowling green lawn with its neat stripes may have ­historically been the desired garden aesthetic but, increasingly, we’re seeing a cultural shift which sees wilder lawns buzzing with bees and butterflies becoming highly valued.

“A radical shift in attitudes towards lawn management is underway and it is to the benefit of plants, pollinators, people and the planet”.

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Advice on how often you should mow your lawn varies with each season.

The Royal Horticultural Society recommends mowing most lawns once a fortnight or once a week in spring and autumn, while those with flowers should be left uncut in spring.

In summer, lawns should be mowed once a week, but left alone during periods of low rain.

The RHS says mowing is not usually necessary in winter unless the weather is mild and grass is growing.

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They say lawns should never be mowed if the ground is very soft, wet or frozen – or during cold and windy spells.

RHS’ LAWN-MOWING RECOMMENDATIONS

January – February: Little or no mowing required depending on the weather.

March: One or two mows this month, roughly once a fortnight but a high cut just to neaten things up.

April – May: At least once per week will be necessary, perhaps even twice a week if growth is vigorous. The warmer temperatures and still moist ground will cause grass to grow at its fastest rate of the year.

June – August: Once per week is usually often enough at this time of year. Growth will be more steady as soil moisture drops. If there is a drought and things go very dry it may be best to stop mowing and leave the grass long until the rain returns.

September – October: Once per week, maybe twice per week if growth is strong. This can be a period of rapid growth similar to the spring. The soil is warm from the summer and rains will have restored moisture,meaning growing conditions are great. Don’t be tempted to pack away the mower too soon.

November – December: Once per fortnight should be enough to keep the lawn tidy. Lawns can grow faster than expected while temperatures are mild. 

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