Gardening expert James Ewens has broken down exactly when homeowners in every major city in the UK should cut their lawn before the end of the year to ensure healthy grass for spring
Cutting your lawn at the exact right time before winter descends is important to the future health of your lawn.
If your last lawn cut of the year is too late, you could risk damaging your lawn for good. But if you cut too early, you will have to deal with a messy and possibly weakened lawn.
Luckily a gardening expert at Green Feathers, James Ewens, has pinpointed the exact right dates to cut your lawn for every major UK city. James’ advice is based on temperature trends, daylight hours, weather patterns and grass type.
He admits it’s a bit of a balancing act but that timing is crucial: “Timing is everything when tending to your lawn. Once temperatures drop below 10 degrees Celsius, grass will simply stop growing.
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“Leaving your lawn cut too late in super cold conditions can actually harm your grass long term, and if you stop mowing too early in the year, you’ll risk a messy lawn and weakened grass,” says James.
Average temperature is one of the prime factors in determining when to do your last lawn cut because as temperatures drop, growth slows. Once average daytime temperatures hold below 10C, it’s generally safe to stop cutting.
That said, unusual weather patterns and regional variations are other key factors at play. This year, the UK experienced some significant heat waves, and unusually warm weather can extend the growing season as will increased daylight hours.
However, cold snaps will quickly bring grass growth to a standstill. Additionally, microclimates within different regions of the UK can affect the timing of the last cut. Coastal areas, for example, may experience milder winters than inland regions.
James encourages gardeners to monitor their lawns closely this autumn and follow the one-third rule: never cut more than a third of the grass blade length.
Timing your last cut just right means you can enter the winter season with a healthy and lush lawn and a strong root system – ensuring healthy growth and a quick recovery next spring.
Optimal last lawn cut timing 2025
- London; Late October – Mid November
- Bristol; Late October – Mid November
- Cardiff; Late October – Mid November
- Manchester; Late October
- Birmingham; Late October
- Leeds; Late October
- Liverpool; Late October
- Newcastle; Mid – Late October
- Glasgow; Mid October – Late October
- Edinburgh; Mid October – Late October