Gardening expert Alan Titchmarsh has shared five essential jobs to do in April, according to the Daily Mirror. At the same time, gardeners are being urged to stop mowing lawns and leave weeds alone in spring to help local wildlife, particularly bees, the same outlet reports. Disturbing a bird nest in use or being constructed in the UK is a criminal offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981, with potential fines or custodial sentences, the Daily Mirror notes.
Alan Titchmarsh recommends using a wire-tooth rake to pull moss out of the lawn in April. He prefers reseeding bare patches in the lawn over replacing them with turf because it is cheaper. Titchmarsh suggests using a hosepipe as a makeshift ruler to keep lawn edges straight while tidying the border.
Wildlife-focused recommendations emphasize the benefits of less intensive lawn care. Helen Keating, a botanist with the Woodland Trust, says lawn weeds such as dandelions are excellent bee plants, providing vital pollen early in the season. Experts at Food for Birds urge gardeners to adjust mower blade settings and leave grass longer in spring to help young birds during nesting season. Cutting grass too short during nesting season can harm birds by destroying hiding spots or injuring fledglings, they warn.
Monty Don warns against mowing too early in spring, saying it can damage the lawn, and recommends mowing by mid-March with a light trim. He recommends forking the lawn at least once a year to improve drainage, followed by spreading a mixture of sieved topsoil, sharp sand, and sieved leaf mould or compost.
Weed management perspectives vary between removal and tolerance. Gardening expert Ish warns that weeds can slow down plant growth by competing for nutrients and space. Ish recommends digging weeds out with a trowel to remove roots completely and prevent regrowth, then topping up with fresh compost and mulch.
Scientific and organizational guidelines offer temperature-based mowing recommendations. According to Black + Decker analysis of Met Office data, the recommended date to start mowing in the UK is 13 March, as grass growth begins consistently above 7°C after this date. The Royal Horticultural Society says grass only begins to grow at temperatures above 7°C. The RHS recommends starting the first mow of the year on the highest blade setting to avoid scalping, which can cause disease and weed infestation.
Additional RHS lawn care best practices include mowing only when the lawn is dry, avoiding mowing over emerging bulbs like daffodils, and not walking on a frosty lawn. New lawns should have grass at least 5cm high before the first mow.
Alan Titchmarsh advises pricking out seedlings when they are between half an inch and an inch high to give them more space.