Monty Don urges gardeners to avoid 'worst thing you can do' to your lawn

Now that the sun is out, many might be itching to rev up the lawnmower, but guru Monty Don is waving a word of caution. He explained that one of April's biggest garden mistakes is cutting too much off your grass.

The TV gardening expert warns against trimming your turf down to its summer sleekness too soon. Monty said: "Resist the temptation to scalp your grass down to its midsummer height. Set the blades high and just trim the grass for the first few weeks as much to even it out as to reduce it."

This guidance comes with good reason; following winter, your grass needs ample time under spring's sunshine to properly root itself.

READ MORE:

READ MORE:

Go overboard with the shearing and you risk hindering the grass's ability to feed itself through photosynthesis, potentially leaving you with a patchy, weed-infested mess, reports .

For those keen on maintaining a thriving garden, the recommendation is to chop no more than a third of the height with each mow during spring so the grass can recuperate.

"Then, as the weather gets warmer and the grass starts to grow more strongly, gradually reduce the height over a few weeks but always keeping it slightly on the long side," he advised.

"This will result in a much healthier, greener sward." Post-mow, don't let clippings ruin your work – clean up any wet cuttings immediately to stave off fungal diseases, meanwhile, the dry ones are great for composting duties.

Monty revealed his own gardening habits, saying he keeps mowing to a minimum during spring to boost biodiversity. Monty shared: "I am all for mowing as little as possible.

"That will mean different things to different people but long grass is one of the best environments for a huge diversity of wildlife in the garden, and long grass with flowers from bulbs, perennials and annuals is as beautiful as anything else you might grow.

"Everybody is happy except perhaps those that see tidiness as the prime aim of gardening and children wanting somewhere to play."

By not overdoing it with the lawnmower, you're giving your grass a chance to flourish, avoiding interference with its natural growth cycle.

Less frequent mowing means the grass can channel its energy into developing stronger roots, which is a boon for withstanding the scorching summer heat.

So if you're looking for a solid reason to ease up on the garden chores and still have lush grass come springtime, limit your mowing this April to only when it's truly needed, and you'll be rewarded with a more verdant lawn as the year progresses.