Make the most of your lawn with regular mowing

With major gardening events such as the Royal Horticultural Society's Chelsea Flower Show still fresh in the memory, it is easy to assume that exotic plants and unusual designs are very much at the forefront of people's minds.

However, this is not necessarily the case, as the importance and simplicity of a well-maintained lawn is not to be underestimated.

Indeed, editor of the lawn advice website Grass Clippings Mike Seaton told the BBC that there is something nationally appealing about this.

"I grew up with a large back garden and I was weaned into lawn mowing from a very early age. It was the first useful job I could do for my parents and I took a real pride in it," he remarked.

"There is a huge passion for lawns and everyone loves a stripe," Mr Seaton continued, adding that: "A striped lawn reminds us of lovely things like cricket and bowls."

In order to achieve this, gardeners will absolutely have to ensure they stick to a regular mowing schedule.

The quality of the edge on the mower blades is the most important consideration when maintaining a lawn. This is because dulled blades risk tearing the grass instead of making a clean cut, which can damage the appearance of a lawn.

It is also essential that the height of the grass is given careful thought. It is advisable to leave more grass left over compared with how much is trimmed after a once-over with a mower.

The majority of contemporary models have adjustable cutting heights, so it could be a good idea to think about what kind of range will be required prior to investing in a new model.

For those looking at a basic model, the Sanli LS40 Petrol Push Lawnmower could be a good choice. It features three cutting heights from 32 mm to 65 mm and is available from MowDIRECT for just £129.

Anyone after a wider range would do well to consider the Tuffcut T4204 Push 4-Wheeled Petrol Rotary Lawnmower. This model boasts five cutting heights between 25mm and 75mm.

It need not break the bank either, as it is currently on special offer at MowDIRECT for £179 – down from £249.

Whichever lawn mower is chosen, sticking to a regular mowing schedule is a good idea. In an article for the Daily Telegraph, professional gardener and former presenter of the BBC television show Gardening From Scratch Helen Yemm asserted that cutting little and often is preferable to excess cutting once in a while.

Mr Seaton claimed that the perfect garden will be mowed once a week between March and October, fertilised every three months and have its grass kept strictly between 25mm and 45mm in height.

"Grass is tougher than it looks, which is good considering we're in the middle of the wettest drought ever," he told the BBC, adding: "If your grass looks dried and brown, it's more than likely that the base will still be ok."

MowDIRECT can also help with anyone's fertilising needs. We offer a wide range of garden spreaders that are very useful for guaranteeing an even spread of fertiliser by automating the process.