Gardeners told not to cut grass until 'next weekend' in urgent warning

Gardeners are being urged to delay mowing their lawns until next weekend to help protect wildflowers and insect pollinators.

Sir David Attenborough highlighted the critical role that traditional hay meadows play in supporting biodiversity, noting that 97% of these habitats have been lost in the last 60 years.

"Nowhere here is richer in wildflowers and insect pollinators than our traditional hay meadows," Attenborough explained.

"But with nature-friendly farming, meadows can be restored to provide a haven for wildlife."

Stressing the importance of timing, Attenborough advised that delaying mowing until mid-July allows birds and insects to complete their breeding cycles and flowers to set their seeds.

His call comes in tandem with advice from BBC Gardeners' World presenter Monty Don on lawn care.

Monty Don echoed Attenborough's sentiments, advising that by late July, most wildflower meadows can be safely cut back without harming the plants.

"All Spring-flowering bulbs should have completely died back so that long grass can be cut without affecting their display next year," Don said.

"At Longmeadow, we often wait until August to do this because not all wild flowers have set seed, but by the end of July, most wild flower meadows can be safely cut back."

Both experts stress the importance of collecting and composting grass clippings after the first mow to prevent enriching the soil too much, which can lead to coarser grass growth and potentially reduce the diversity of wildflowers.

In addition to lawn care, Monty Don offered further gardening advice, particularly on the best time to prune certain plants.

He said that June was the optimal month to prune wisteria to ensure the flowers return more splendidly in the following years.