When to stop mowing the lawn in the UK

In short: stop mowing when the grass stops growing, which in most of the UK is some time from late October to November, once the days stay below about 6 or 7°C. Before that, raise the blades, cut less often, and never mow frosty or soaking grass.

When should you stop mowing the lawn in the UK?

Stop when the grass stops growing, not on a fixed date. Grass slows sharply as it gets colder, and the RHS says it keeps growing in temperatures above about 7°C. In practice, for most British lawns, that means the last cut falls somewhere between late October and November, a bit earlier in the north and in Scotland, a bit later in the mild south-west.

The tell is simple: if you mowed a fortnight ago and it barely looks any longer, it's done for the year.

What month should you stop mowing?

For most of the UK it's November, give or take a few weeks either side. A warm autumn can keep the grass going into December, and a cold snap in late October can finish it early. That's why it's worth going by the weather rather than the calendar.

What temperature does grass stop growing?

Grass growth slows to a crawl once it's consistently below about 6 or 7°C. The RHS puts the line at around 7°C. In the Weather for Dads mow verdict, we call it off when the warmest hour of the day stays under 6°C, because cutting grass that isn't growing is all stress for the lawn and no benefit.

How short should the last cut be?

Leave it about 4cm long, a bit higher than summer. The RHS recommends roughly 4cm through spring, autumn and winter, against about 2.5cm in summer. Longer grass copes better with cold, wet and feet, so raise the blades a notch or two from September and leave them there for the last cut.

When is it too wet or too cold to mow?

Don't mow on frost or on soaking grass, both of which do more harm than good. Each has its own reason.

Frost

Frozen grass snaps rather than bends, and the RHS warns that mowing or even walking on it damages the lawn. You'll often see the result later as dark, dead footprints. Wait until it has thawed and dried.

Wet blades

Wet grass tears instead of cutting cleanly, clumps on the lawn and clogs the mower. In autumn, dew is often the culprit as much as rain: a clear, still night can leave a lawn soaking until late morning, which is why a 9am cut is often a bad idea even on a dry day.

Soft ground

After a lot of rain the soil itself goes soft, and the mower's wheels compact it and leave ruts even if the blades have dried. If your footprints sink in, leave it.

Should you mow the lawn in winter?

Only if it's still growing, which happens in a mild winter. The RHS says lawns sometimes benefit from the odd mow between late autumn and early spring when winters are mild. Pick a dry, frost-free day with the blades set high, and only take the tips off.

How do you know if today is a good day to mow?

Check four things: no frost, dry blades, ground that isn't soft, and grass that's still growing. That's exactly what the Weather for Dads mow verdict works out for you each day. It tracks how wet the lawn is hour by hour from the rain, the dew, the sun and the wind, and says NOW, a time later today, or the next good day. If you're curious how far ahead to trust any of it, we checked that in how far ahead is the weather forecast accurate.