Gardening expert on when to stop cutting grass or risk ‘die-back’

Regular mowing will be no more in a few weeks as November is usually the last opportunity for gardeners to cut their lawns this year. A lawn needs firm soil and some growth – both of which can suffer with a British winter. Express.co.uk spoke to Fiona Jenkins, a gardening expert at My Job Quote about lawncare this winter. Fiona said: ‘There are some things you can do before winter to prepare your lawn for the harsh conditions. ‘Clear any fallen leaves and give your grass one last cut sometime in October or November, before the first frost. ‘Use some autumn lawn food to help strengthen the roots of the grass and kill moss – this will ensure your lawn is beautifully luscious and green when spring comes around. ‘Spike the grass to aerate the soil and increase drainage.’ READ MORE: ‘Ideal solution’ to stop decking from getting slippery in winter When to stop cutting grass for winter to prevent ‘winter die-back’ and ‘yellowing’ (Image: GETTY)In terms of cutting the grass, the expert added: ‘If you leave your grass too long over winter, the light will be blocked from the base of the blades and this can result in yellowing.’Clear any fallen leaves from the lawn and then cut it with the blades high, just trimming the top of each blade off.’ As for whether you can mow leaves up, Fiona said: ‘You can mulch the leaves with a mulching mower and the mulch can be used on your lawn. The mulch can act as a fertiliser for the lawn during the winter months. ‘If you would prefer not to mulch your lawn, it’s best to rake the leaves and remove them from your lawn completely. DON’T MISS…3 cheap solutions that remove condensation and stop windows ‘dripping’ [COMMENT]Skincare expert on how to ‘eliminate fine lines & wrinkles’ in minutes [EXPERT]Celebrations announces big change to Christmas tubs [NEWS] Fiona recommends collecting the leaves or mulching them before mowing (Image: GETTY) Lawn care calendar – full year in view (Image: EXPRESS)’If you have any climbers, trees, or shrubs that require pruning in winter, you’ll need to do this at the start of winter and again at the end of winter, before spring, so that the plant can thrive,’ she said. ‘Take some time to tidy up the garden; remove any dead leaves and rubbish from the garden regularly. ‘During the autumn months, you may find some hardy weeds coming through in the garden, be sure to take care of weeds as soon as possible to prevent the problem from becoming any worse. ‘Walls, fences, climbing plants, plants supports, and painted surfaces are all much easier to get to during the winter months when the plants are dormant. Winter is a great time for completing any repairs or maintenance needed in these areas.’