Gardening maintenance tips - best time to stop mowing the lawn before winter

Fiona Jenkins, a garden expert has come forward with essential tips for the green-fingered - especially what you should do coming into the winter .

She advized: "It's best to stop mowing your lawn in fall . The last cut should be between late September and late October. The timeframes can vary depending on your location and the climate in your area. For a more accurate timeframe, I would advise you to pay close attention to your lawn to determine when is best for the last cut."

Fiona pointed out that as autumn progresses: "You will start to notice the growth of your grass beings slowing down."

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When you spot the season's first frost, it's an unmistakable indicator, Fiona emphasized, to cease mowing for a good few months until spring arrives. Even though you're giving the lawnmower a rest during the cooler months, don't think for a second that lawn care goes on break too.

Fiona assures there are plenty of measures to take so that your turf comes back "flourishing" after winter hibernation.

"For the last cut of the season, you want to make sure you cut your grass as short as you possibly can," she explained. "The lawn may still grow slightly for a while after the last cut before the frost stunts the growth. If you cut your grass short, this will prevent the need for any further cuts until next year, even if the lawn does grow slightly."

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"Now is a brilliant time to get rid of any unsightly weeds from your lawn. Removing weeds and stopping them in their tracks now will prevent the need for a bigger weeding job when spring comes around."

The autumn period is an ideal chance to tidy up the edges of your lawn that might have gotten a bit wild. Keeping everything shipshape really enhances the overall look.

Plus, Fiona notes that well-kept borders act as a defence, preventing weed and plant roots from encroaching on your turf.

It's also crucial to clear away leaves from your lawn's surface to avoid damage and those nasty brown spots that tarnish the hue of your grass. Moreover, leaves can harm your grass by obstructing both water and sunlight, which could allow diseases to gain a foothold.

Fiona advised on lawn care, noting: "To prepare your grass for the extra water we see in winter, you must make sure you aerate your lawn," and highlighted, "This is quite a simple job and shouldn't take too long to complete. Aerating your lawn consistently will give it a much better chance of surviving the extreme winter weather conditions. You don't necessarily need any fancy tools for this either, a garden fork is enough to get this job done."

In addition, she suggests over-seeding the lawn in September and treating it against moss to prevent competition for space and light amongst the grass.

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