Fortnightly garden grass cutting

For most British homeowners, a fortnightly schedule is the "Goldilocks" zone of garden maintenance. It is frequent enough to keep fast-growing rye grasses under control during the peak growing season (May to September) without the higher costs of weekly visits.

What Does the Work Involve?

• Site Clearance: Checking the lawn for stones, fallen branches, or pet waste that could damage mower blades.
• Precision Mowing: Cutting the main body of the lawn to a consistent height using professional-grade rotary or cylinder mowers.
• Edge Strimming: Trimming long grass around fence posts, flower beds, and walls where the mower cannot reach.
• Mechanical Edging: Creating clean, sharp lines between the lawn and hard surfaces like paths or patios.
• Debris Clearing: Using a leaf blower or rake to remove stray clippings from driveways and borders.
• Waste Management: Either bagging clippings for your council green bin, mulching them back into the soil, or removing them from the site.

Typical Costs

Pricing for grass cutting varies significantly based on the size of your lawn and your location in the UK. Professionals in London and the South East typically charge 20-30% more than those in the North or Midlands.

Factors that increase the price include steep slopes, narrow access (preventing the use of wide mowers), and the presence of numerous obstacles like flower beds or play equipment that require extensive strimming.

How Long Does It Take?

• Small City Garden: 30–45 minutes. This usually involves a quick mow and minimal strimming.
• Standard Suburban Garden: 45–90 minutes. Includes more detailed edging and clearing of multiple paths.
• Large Rural Property: 2–4 hours. Often requires a two-person team or ride-on machinery to complete within this timeframe.
• Overgrown Lawns: Can take double the time for the first visit to safely reduce the height without stalling equipment.

DIY or Professional?

Mowing the lawn is the most common DIY garden task, but hiring a professional offers several advantages beyond just saving time. Professional mowers use higher-lift blades that provide a cleaner cut, reducing the risk of grass diseases and "browning" at the tips.

If you choose the professional route, ensure they are using well-maintained equipment. For DIY enthusiasts, remember that UK health and safety standards suggest wearing steel-toed boots and eye protection, especially when using a petrol-powered strimmer.

Pro Tip: If your lawn is on a steep incline, hiring a professional with a hover mower or specialized slope-mowing equipment is significantly safer than attempting it with a standard wheeled DIY mower.

Choosing the Right Tradesperson

• Waste License: If they are taking grass clippings away, they must hold a valid Environment Agency Waste Carrier Licence.
• Insurance: Ask for proof of Public Liability Insurance (minimum £1m–£2m) to cover damage to your windows or property from flying debris.
• Equipment: Check if they use petrol, electric, or battery tools—battery tools are quieter and better for early morning visits in terrace-heavy areas.
• Questions to Ask:
  • "Do you offer a fixed seasonal price or is it pay-as-you-go?"
  • "What happens if it rains on my scheduled day?"
  • "Do you sharpen your mower blades regularly?"
  • "Are you able to apply weed-and-feed treatments alongside mowing?"

UK Regulations

• Noise Ordinances: Most local councils prohibit the use of noisy power tools before 8:00 AM on weekdays and 9:00 AM on weekends.
• Waste Disposal: It is illegal for a tradesperson to put garden waste into your domestic "grey" bin or fly-tip it; it must go in a designated green bin or a commercial facility.
• Pesticide Application: If your gardener applies professional-grade weed killers, they must hold a NPTC PA1/PA6 certificate by law.

Common Problems

• Scalping: If the mower is set too low on uneven ground, it cuts into the "crown" of the grass, leaving brown patches that are prone to weeds.
• Wet Mowing: Cutting in the rain can smear the soil, clog the mower, and lead to "clumping" which suffocates the grass underneath.
• Blunt Blades: Dull blades tear the grass rather than cutting it, leading to a white/silver tint on the lawn and increased susceptibility to disease.
• Access Issues: Professionals often use 30-inch+ mowers; if your garden gate is standard width, they may need to use smaller, slower equipment, increasing the cost.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to be home when the gardener visits?

No, as long as the gardener has clear access to the lawn and any pets are kept indoors. Most regular clients provide a gate code or key, and payments are handled via bank transfer or online invoicing.

Will they cut the grass if it is raining?

Generally, no. Mowing wet grass results in a poor finish, soil compaction, and can damage your lawn. Most UK gardeners will reschedule for the next dry window within 24–48 hours.

Can I get stripes on my lawn?

Yes, but this requires a mower with a rear roller. Most professionals carry these, but you should specify you want a striped finish, as it may take slightly longer than a standard cut.

What should I do about dog mess before the visit?

You should clear all pet waste before the gardener arrives. Many professionals will refuse to mow a lawn contaminated with dog mess due to health and safety risks and tool contamination, and they may still charge for the visit.

Do gardeners work through the winter?

Standard fortnightly mowing usually runs from late March to October. During winter, grass growth slows significantly; most gardeners offer a monthly "tidy-up" or pause the service entirely until spring.