With the weather seeming a little warmer as the sun has made a much needed appearance, you might be thinking about sorting your garden ahead of spring.

However, you might want to think twice about it as it’s still too soon to be mowing your lawn, according to experts.

If you mow your lawn too early, you can cause more harm than good, including damage to both your grass and lawn mower.

Living in the UK, it won’t surprise you that cold snaps could still make an appearance so mowing your lawn now isn’t advised.

An expert has warned it's too early to mow grassAn expert has warned it's too early to mow the grass (Image: Getty) Samantha Richards,  garden gazebo expert at Gazeboshop, has explained 5 reasons why you should avoid cutting the grass too early – let’s take a look.

Why you should avoid mowing your grass too early

Soil temperature is too low

During winter, grass enters a dormancy stage and growth slows significantly due to the cold temperature.

Even though the temperature is beginning to rise, it is still fluctuating, meaning your grass may remain dormant despite the warmer weather.

This is because, even if the air temperature reaches 8°C or more, soil takes longer to warm up, and grass growth is driven by soil temperature rather than air temperature. 

If temperatures consistently drop below 10º C, it’s advised not to trim the grass back. When temperatures drop below this for a long period of time, your grass will enter its dormant stage and stop growing.

How to care for your garden during winter

Mowing during the dormant phase can weaken the grass, making it more vulnerable to stress and disease and less resilient as the season progresses.

Risk of overnight frost damage

Samantha explains that because there is still a high chance of overnight frost, it’s not a good idea to cut your grass yet.

Freshly cut grass is more vulnerable, increasing the chance of frost damage such as browning and fungal diseases.

Homeowners should wait until mid to late April to reduce the chances of frost harming your lawn, according to Samantha.

Cutting wet grass can damage your lawn mower

Overnight frost also means the grass will likely be wet during the day. Mowing the lawn when wet can result in an uneven cut because some of the grass will be weighed down by moisture, meaning the lawn mower will miss these blades. 

Your mower might also struggle to cut grass when it’s wet, especially if it’s long. This can create hazards like causing your mower to overheat which will be costly.

Samantha advises waiting until your grass is at least 95% dry before mowing.

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

Mowing too early disrupts root development

In early spring, grass focuses on strengthening its root system rather than growing upwards so mowing the lawn too soon risks disrupting the process by diverting energy away from root development.

This could also be detrimental to your hopes for a thriving summer lawn, as a well-developed root system is essential for a healthy, drought-resistant lawn in the summer months.

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Increased risk of weeds and moss growth

When grass is cut too early, it becomes thinner and weaker creating the perfect conditions for weeds and moss to take over your lawn.

Strong, thick grass is better at competing for sunlight, water and nutrients and is better able to suppress the growth of weeds and moss.

By delaying your first mow of the year, you give the grass a better chance at establishing density and strong roots, promoting healthier grass while minimising the risk of invasive plants taking over.