08 Feb 2022
February is the perfect time to devote some attention to your lawn after its long winter rest. But before your first mow of the year, it’s important to prepare the grass and remove any obstacles. Read our guide on how to protect your lawn and safeguard your mower.
Clear the way
Before embarking on your first mow, it’s a good idea to check your lawn for rocks and other hard objects, such as pinecones, that could damage your lawnmower. If your garden has been hit by winter winds, make sure to remove any tree branches, sticks and twigs that could impede your mower’s progress.
There’s also a chance that smalls animals might have made a nest for themselves in your garden over the winter, so make sure that there aren’t any sleeping creatures in the areas you plan to mow.
Protect your lawn
Take advantage of any February sunshine and wait for a dry day before mowing. It will be much easier to achieve a clean cut, as the grass blades will be in an upright position and less likely to clump as you mow. Cutting during harsher weather can send grass into a shock response which weakens it, making it more susceptible to parasites.
Start with a trim
Take care not to remove more than a third of the grass height at once. If your grass is long, set the cutting height to the maximum available, then gradually lower the cutting height with each mow. This will ensure that the grass retains enough surface area to convert sunlight into the fuel it needs to grow.
Avoid using a mulching mower for your first mow. When large quantities of long grass clippings are spread over the soil, it blocks air flow and impedes water infiltration. These are both vital processes, particularly at this time of year when the grass is recovering from the harsher weather of the winter months.
