After a severely long, wet and miserable winter, many of us will be counting down the days until spring officially arrives.
Soon we will once again be making the most of our gardens as the clocks move forward in March.
But as temperatures start to rise again (goodbye -2 degrees), and the sun starts to stick around for a little longer each day, you might be wondering when to mow your lawn for the first time in 2026.
Well, thanks to the help of experts at BLACK+DECKER and the Woodland Trust, we have found the exact dates to get the lawnmower out, without risk of causing damage to your grass, or tools.
How to Care for Your Garden During Winter
It comes as BLACK+DECKER has analysed Met Office data from the past two years to identify the ideal time for the first cut to take place this year.
When to start cutting grass after winter in the UK? 2026 dates
According to the Royal Horticultural Society, grass won’t grow in temperatures less than 7 degrees which means that, in line with Met Office data, the date the household hardware experts expect gardeners to mow for the first time in 2026 is March 13.
This is because from this date, temperatures are expected to stay above 7 degrees consistently throughout spring and into summer.
Nick Ee, product training manager at BLACK+DECKER, commented: “Whilst there are many contributing factors that play into the optimum time to mow a lawn here in the UK, our research shows that the middle of March is likely a good time to start.
“However, I’d urge everyone to keep checking their local forecasts beforehand as we know how quickly the weather can change.
“It’s also important to consider other elements such as rain, frost and wind as these conditions will have an impact on the task at hand and Britain is no stranger to an ice blast or two in spring.”
Similarly, the Woodland Trust estimates March 19 will be the ideal day to cut your grass for the first time after winter.
This is the average date of first lawn cuts in the UK, according to 34,000 Nature’s Calendar records from 2000 to 2025.
However, this will depend on where you live and local weather conditions, as mentioned above.
Best flowers to plant in spring
Is it bad to mow the lawn when it’s wet?
If you think you might want to risk mowing the lawn when it’s wet, you should probably think again.
Nick warns: “Wet grass clumps together, leading to an uneven cut and clogs in the lawnmower.
“It can also tear rather than cut cleanly, making grass vulnerable to disease.
“In terms of damage to equipment, moisture can cause rust on mower blades and clog the deck, reducing its overall performance and lifespan.”
The Woodland Trust agrees: “Don’t mow a wet lawn. Cutting wet grass can clog your mower, damage your lawn and leave things looking worse than before.
“It’s best to wait for a dry period. Mowing the lawn later in the day is a good idea too, so any frost has thawed or dew evaporated.”
Are you eagerly awaiting for March to arrive so you can give your grass its first trim of 2026? Let us know if you hope to do it sooner, by leaving a comment below.
