Lawn mowing technique will stop weeds, say RHS experts

As the summer weather arrives, UK gardens are in full bloom, but with the growth of new flowers come excellent conditions for growing other types of plants. Weeds can be a headache for gardeners, especially if you want your garden to look perfect.

And if your lawn is the centerpiece of your outdoor space, weeds can make things look unkempt and messy, no matter how much effort gardeners put in. The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) advises gardeners to try to stay away from chemical-based herbicides. and pesticides where possible to benefit their garden and the wider environment.

While pulling weeds by the root is one way to combat unwanted growth, experts have revealed that the way you mow your lawn could be the reason weeds appear. “Avoid mowing your lawn very short, especially in summer, as this can weaken the grass and lead to bare patches that let weeds in,” said the RHS.

“In the summer, with a conventional lawn, mow once a week on average, dropping to once every two weeks or more during dry periods.”

“Bloom-rich canes can be trimmed every four to six weeks. Long grass lawns are best mowed once or twice during the summer, usually not before June,” reports the Express.

During the summer, experts recommend mowing the lawn to a length of at least 13 mm. They recommend keeping an average length between 13 and 25 mm.

Shorter mowing can weaken grass plants and encourage shallow rooting, all of which encourage weeds and moss.

“Near-trimmed geese also need more frequent maintenance and feeding,” the RHS said.

For lawn care to be effective, it must be regular so that weeds are stopped before they even start to sprout. “Feeding, aerating and scarifying the lawn will encourage the grass to be more vigorous, so it is more difficult for weeds to establish in the first place,” the RHS advised.

A well-aerated lawn is achieved by creating small openings in the soil beneath it.

Moss, one of the main problems in lawn care, is combated by aeration. This is because it unclogs thatch build-up in high-maintenance lawns and reduces turf compaction. Simply put, scarifying a lawn involves removing dead thatch.