Gardening expert shares why 'starting too early' may ruin your outdoor space

Gardening enthusiasts may be eager to get out and start tending to their outdoor spaces as the weather begins to warm up - but a top horticulturist has warned that starting too early could be bad news.

Guy Barter, the chief horticulturist at the Royal Horticultural Society, cautioned that if you begin gardening too soon, you might not see the best results from your efforts. .

He explained that seeds and plants in February, March, and sometimes even April are "sluggish", meaning you won't see beautiful blooms if you're active in the garden during these months, reports the Mirror.

Whether you're a green-fingered expert or a pruning novice, knowing an expert's advice can help ensure you're garden is in ship-shape for your next outdoor gathering. To hep, he advised keen gardeners to "wait until the lawn needs mowing every week and weeds appear before sowing and planting most of your plants.".

Guy added: "It is fun to chance some early sowing and planting, but there is not as much to gain as some think, and getting ready for mid to late spring is time better used."

This advice echoes that of experts at MyBuilder.com, who warn against mowing wet grass due to potential disastrous consequences. They recommend waiting for the lawn to be dry for 10 days before mowing it, as doing otherwise can be "counterproductive" - particularly relevant given the wet start to 2024 we've experienced.

Expounding on the perils of mowing a wet lawn, he specified: "While regular cutting of your lawn is essential for its general health, mowing while wet is counterproductive. When grass is wet, it doesn't stand up straight and therefore it's impossible to get an even cut.

"You will end up with a messy cut, or the mower may miss blades of grass entirely, leaving you with patches of totally unmown lawn. Worse still, these tears in the blade leave your lawn vulnerable to fungal infections, which thrive in wet conditions."

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