A gardening expert has cautioned homeowners against cutting their grass too short in spring, a practice known as 'scalping', which can leave lawns vulnerable to drought, weeds, and moss. According to research, March 24 is the typical date for the first grass cut of the year in Britain, but many may be tempted to set their mower too low.
Gardener Michael Griffiths, who posts on TikTok as @themediterraneangardener, advises keeping grass at a consistent height of around 4cm during spring. Shady areas should be mown one to two centimetres higher. He warns that scalping—cutting grass very low to stimulate growth—can do more harm than good at this time of year.
The Royal Horticultural Society recommends maintaining grass at about 4cm in spring, autumn, and winter, and around 2.5cm in summer. For finer lawns, a shorter length of 6 to 13mm is suggested. Griffiths also advises switching from autumn lawn feed, which is high in phosphates, to a nitrogen-rich feed to support top growth and promote vibrant green grass.
Other essential spring gardening jobs, according to Griffiths, include feeding and pruning roses for better blooms, replanting forced blooms into borders, planting lilies and summer-flowering bulbs in pots, and removing weeds before they establish. Followers responded positively to the tips, with one noting the common mistake of cutting grass too short.
