Anyone heading into the garden for the first time in months may find their lawns looking patchy, miserable and overgrown. It can be tempting to dive straight in and cut it like we would in summer, but the truth is patience is key. That's according to BBC Gardener's World's Monty Don, who has explained how to tackle lawns in March after a long and bitterly cold winter. The first tip, he said, is not to cut the lawn too short. He added: "The grass will need mowing in March but do not cut it too short. Just give it a light trim for the rest of this month. This will encourage good root growth and as a result the grass will be a lot healthier and better able to resist summer drought.".
He said the main thing to conquer is mind-set, and that's playing a bit of a long-game with grass to ensure its long-term health. "To get a ‘good’ lawn you have to think positively," he said. "Put your efforts into healthy grass rather than fighting perceived ‘problems’ like daisies, moss, ants, worm-casts, moles, plantains, dandelions and fairy rings.".
An expert, Chris McIlroy from The Grass People, says it's more about your lawns length than it is about timing. He advises gardeners to let their lawns grow to a certain length before making the first cut of the season. Cutting lawns that are too short might damage the grass and prevent it from growing back properly. He says the correct length should be around 5cm to 7cm before you consider getting the lawn mower out.
Online forums suggest a good sign to mow your lawn is when you can see noticeable growth once the weather improves. One symptom of a winter lawn could be the growth of moss, which comes from poor drainage and shade. These are two common problems in the colder months with more rainfall, and higher chances of water-logged lawns. In a bid to try and tackle this, Monty urges gardeners to use a fork "at least once a year" to try and tackle matted roots, wiggling the garden tool and repeating ever six inches.
