The best time of day (and year) to cut grass in the UK

Best time of day to mow

The sweet spot is mid-morning, once the dew has dried, or early evening. The grass is dry, which gives a clean cut and protects the mower, but it is not the fierce midday heat that stresses freshly cut grass.

Avoid early morning while the lawn is still wet with dew, avoid midday in summer when cutting stresses the grass most, and avoid late evening because grass cut and left damp overnight is more prone to disease.

Avoid wet grass

Whatever the hour, dry grass beats wet. Wet grass clumps and clogs the deck, gives a torn, uneven cut, and can smear clippings that smother the lawn. After rain, wait for the surface to dry before mowing. If you have no choice, raise the cut and go slowly.

Best time of year to start and stop

Make the first cut of the year in March or early April once the grass is actively growing, with the blades set high for a gentle tidy rather than a proper cut. Mow regularly through the growing season, then taper off through October. By November the grass is usually dormant and you stop. See how often to cut grass for the month-by-month rhythm.

Never mow frosty grass

Frozen grass blades are brittle and the mower (and your feet) crush and bruise them, leaving black, damaged patches that take weeks to recover. Wait until any frost has fully lifted, which in winter often means it is simply not a mowing day.

A quick note on neighbours and the law

There is no national law setting mowing hours in the UK, but local councils treat excessive noise as a nuisance, and most people stick to sociable hours, roughly 8am to 8pm on weekdays and a later start at weekends. A quiet cordless or robotic mower makes early or late mowing far more neighbourly than a petrol engine.