Can I still cut the grass in November?

[liliyo]

My front garden has really long grass,
it has been a difficult couple of months and I have let it get overgrown can I still cut it or is it better to leave it now? Will it ruin the mower if it's not completely dry when I do it? Sorry for the stupid questions my ex used to do the gardens and I am not very green fingered.

I would either wait for a dry day to cut it or leave it now. If it's wet it will just tear the grass up. If you do, make sure you don't cut it too short as we will soon get some frosts

I have a petrol mower and can cut the grass when wet. I just put it on a slightly longer setting than normal. I do find it 'clogs' the mower so I have to stop and empty it more often than I do when it's dry.

You can strim it when a bit wet if that’s any help?

If you’re going to do it make sure it’s not too short- especially as no matter how dry the day it will likely be pretty wet in the bottom if it’s very long. Make sure you don’t do it when there’s frost forecast or you’ll probably end up burning the grass off completely. I think I’d be tempted to just leave it if I’m honest. You’re more likely to get a decent result when it starts to grow again and the weather is better. Once you’re past the last frost date for your area you can basically do what you like to it (provided there’s not some freak cold snap forecast) as long as it’s dry.

I just have a basic fairly cheap mower from Argos I don't think I can change the length setting on it and the strimmer broke a while ago.
I have anxiety and tend to over worry about things. I'm tempted to leave it but I'm a bit embarrassed by how messy it looks being long. That being said I'm also embarrassed about being out cutting my lawn in November. If I left it how will I know when the last frost is?

Could you pay a gardener to come and do a one off tidy up for the winter?

Cut ours last week after we'd had 3 or 4 dry days. Grass still wet as it was so long. Cut it to about 2 inches, will probably do it again if we get a few dry days in a row as it will dry out quicker now it's shorter. The latest I have ever cut the grass was 6th January.
If you think about it, golf courses cut their grass all through the winter unless it is frozen or covered in snow!

Did mine at the weekend following a couple of dry days.

Just used the cheap hover mower not DH's mega expensive beast. 😂

Looks great! weeded the rockery too

I’ve just moved into a house that’s been empty for a year and the grass is very long. On the next dry day I intend to strim it only then leave it for the winter depending on what I find underneath as there are quite a few rocks lurking.

Is the lawn large? If not you could use some sharp hand shears as a one off if you're worried about damaging the grass.

More time consuming but gentle.

No idea what a gardener would cost? if it isn't to costly I could afford it.
its just a fairly small garden at the front but I don't have shears.
Hmm Ok I may just see what the weathers like over the next week and just give it a go giving it a quick run over with the lawn mower. It doesn't have to be perfect just a bit neater for over winter.

All our neighbours have been out cutting the grass.
When you say"long" how long?
If it's just long, but not a jungle, you can cut it. Pick a dry day - and put your mower on the top cut.
All most all mowers have some way of lifting the cutting blades higher/lower.
On my mums old one you had to take the wheels off (they just unscrewed and put them back in a different hole. Others have levers by each wheel.

Trim round the edges with shears and get it done. If you leave it it will be much harder to do as the grass is still growing (albeit slowly).

You can cut whenever you like. But make sure it is as dry as possible and set the blades high if you haven't cut it for a while.

You can give the lawn a quick sweep early in the day, with a broom, to knock the worst of the damp off the grass. Or drag a hose pipe across the lawn.
Then leave the sun/breeze to do their evaporating best and cut a few hours later.

You don't necessarily need it to be dry; you might get a shaggier result but it won't do it any harm. Do set your mower quite high though; you don't want to take off more than a third of the length in a single cut.

The reasons for not cutting it in November:

1. if the grass is wet and you have an electric mower, especially if it's plugged into an extension cable, it's not a good idea.

2. if the soil is so soggy that the mower might churn it up - won't be a problem on a bank.

If the grass is longer than about 10cm, you'll need shears, a scythe or a strimmer. You might find that buying shears is cheaper than a visit from a gardener.