'I’m a gardening expert and this is the exact time to mow your lawn'

When to mow your lawn in the spring is a crucial question. Doing it too early can actually kill off your grass, so it's important to be careful. Experts have explained the exact right time to mow your lawn.

The perfect time to mow your lawn is when temperatures consistently reach eight degrees and above, which typically happens in April. This month is also crucial for repairing your lawn after the harsh winter months.

However, with so many gardening tasks to tackle, it can be challenging to know exactly what to do and when.

Although April is usually the best month for diving into garden maintenance and giving your lawn some much-needed care, the UK is bracing for an Icelandic blast and flood warnings in the coming weeks.

With this in mind, the experts at Gazeboshop, specialists in garden gazebos, have compiled a spring gardening guide. This includes six lawn care tips for Brits to follow, taking into account the weather conditions, to ensure your grass is in the best possible shape.

READ MORE: Crucial lawn job needs to be done now to get grass looking ‘healthy and green’ this summer

Six crucial lawn care tips

Avoid mowing when it's wet

No matter how eager you are to cut your grass, don't mow your lawn during or immediately after April showers. Mowing the lawn when it's wet can lead to an uneven cut as some of the grass will be weighed down by moisture, meaning these blades of grass will be missed by the lawn mower.

You may also find that your mower struggles to cut wet grass, particularly if it's long after months of not being cut. Be aware that this can create hazards such as causing your mower to overheat, which could prove costly.

Ideally, you should wait until your grass is at least 95 percent dry before mowing. As a general rule, this is usually between two and five hours after a light shower, but this drying period will be longer if there's been a heavy downpour like we've been experiencing recently.

You can test whether your grass is dry enough to mow by walking down the lawn in flip flops - if your feet are damp by the end then hold off. When you go to mow your lawn, the grass blades should snap easily when bent.

Mow your lawn according to the clock and temperature

If you find yourself up early around sunrise and wanting to get a head start on your grass, Samantha Richards, garden gazebo expert at Gazeboshop, explains why you shouldn't risk it. She said: "It's actually best to avoid mowing your lawn this early in the morning - not only to avoid any fallouts with your neighbours after you wake them up - but doing so can cause damage to the grass by exposing it to disease and fungal infections."

"When it comes to the best time of the day to mow your lawn, the sweet spot is generally mid-morning from around 8 AM - 10AM."

"Also do not mow at all if temperatures consistently drop below 10o C. When temperatures drop below this for a long period of time, your grass will enter its dormant stage and stop growing."

Mow your lawn weekly

While the weather will determine what kind of jobs you can do, it is critical to give some time and attention to ensure your lawn is in a healthy condition ahead of the hot summer months.

Depending on the weather, kickstart your lawn's rejuvenation by mowing once a week at the beginning of April, increasing to every four days by month-end. Regular mowing promotes healthy growth, reduces grass stress and improves air circulation.

Ensure you don't cut your grass below 4cm as it could make your lawn prone to drought - this is when weeds and moss can take over. If you're laying a new lawn this spring, wait until the grass is at least 5cm tall before mowing.

Revive your lawn after winter and recent storms by scarifying. Thatch and moss can congest the base of your lawn over time, restricting airflow around the grass.

After mowing, use a flexible spring tine rake to scarify your lawn. Simply pull the rake back multiple times, criss-crossing over the lawn.

For larger gardens, consider a mechanical scarifier to save time and effort. It does the same job as the rake but requires less manual labour.

How to repair patches in lawn

Once you've cleared out any weeds and dead grass, it's time to start repairing your lawn. To do this, take some compost and an even spread of seeds, and apply it evenly to the soil.

Rake this in gently and then lightly firm it with your feet. The final step is to spray the area with a hose, but be careful not to push the seeds out in the process.

Consider artificial grass

To make life even easier, if you're struggling to maintain your lawn, you might want to consider moving to artificial grass instead. This type of grass doesn't fade in the sun, it's pet-friendly and a great option if you're too busy to set aside time for regular lawn upkeep.

If you plan on getting your garden in tip-top condition during spring but your lawn is an eyesore then artificial grass may be the way to go. It doesn't have to break the bank either.

For instance, there are a lot of factors that can influence your overall budget, such as your garden size, the cost of fitting the grass and the type of grass you opt for.

The best thing you can do is start by ordering lots of different samples before you commit to one, so you're certain that you've found the right shade, material and price point for you.