Taming the Jungle: A Week of Grass Cutting in Totnes

It must be something in the air this week. My phone has been ringing with calls from people all saying the same thing: "The garden has just got away from me." It happens to us all. You turn your back for a moment, and suddenly the lawn looks less like a lawn and more like a jungle. When a property has been left to its own devices, it takes a proper plan to put it right.

This week has been all about Grass Cutting, but I’m not talking about a quick trim. I’m talking about full-on garden reclamations. Here are a few stories from the front line.

The Forgotten Back Garden

The first job of the week was a classic case. A lovely back garden that, due to a busy few months, had turned into a sea of waist-high grass and weeds. You couldn't even see the path to the shed.

For a job this heavy, you can’t just use a normal mower. This is a job for the heavy-duty strimmer. It’s a slow and steady process, working in sections to methodically battle through the thick growth. It’s hard work, but incredibly satisfying. As the layers of long grass come down, you start to reveal the garden's original shape of the garden again. By the end, we had a huge pile of cuttings ready for my Garden Waste removal service and a garden that the owners could actually use again.

The "Accidental" Meadow

Sometimes, an overgrown lawn isn't a problem, it's just a change of plan! One garden I worked on had become a beautiful, accidental wildflower meadow. It was full of life, which is a fantastic part of my Rewilding philosophy. However, the owner wanted a section of it back for the kids to play on.

Here, the job was more strategic. We decided on a mowing plan that kept the wilder areas around the edges but created a large, usable lawn in the centre. It’s a great compromise – you get the best of both worlds. It's a reminder that good Lawn Care isn't always about a perfect bowling green; it's about making the space work for you.

Freeing the Front Garden

My final big grass cut of the week was a front garden where the long grass was making the whole property look unloved. The grass had swallowed the edges of the flower beds and was creeping over the driveway.

A thorough cut and some crisp, sharp edging completely transformed the look of the house from the street. It’s amazing the difference it makes. It’s the core of my Garden Maintenance service – bringing that sense of order and care back to a space. It wasn't just a grass cut; it was a full Garden Clearance that instantly lifted the property's kerb appeal.

It’s been a busy week of summer jobs, from admiring the simple joy of daisies to understanding the magic of hydrangeas. These big reclamation projects are tough, but seeing the immediate, dramatic transformations makes it all worthwhile. It's a reminder that, with the right approach, no garden is ever truly lost.

If your lawn is starting to feel more like a jungle and you don't know where to start, give me a call.

Contact me today. Let's reclaim your garden together.

Kevin's Guide to a Great Lawn

A good lawn is the heart of a garden, but keeping it looking great can feel like a bit of a dark art. People are often worried they're cutting it too short, too often, or with the wrong kind of mower.

Forget the confusion. Here’s my straightforward guide to mowing, based on years of keeping lawns in Totnes healthy and looking sharp.

The Rhythm: How Often Should You Mow?

The simple answer is: it depends on the season and how fast your grass is growing. But as a rule of thumb for a standard lawn:

Spring & Autumn: The grass is growing steadily. I'm usually mowing every week or two to keep on top of it.
Summer: When it's warm and getting decent rain, you'll be on a weekly schedule. But—and this is important—when it gets hot and dry, you need to ease off. Let the grass grow a bit longer to help it cope with the heat.
Winter: You can pretty much put the mower away. Unless it's unusually mild and you see some growth, leave it be. Never, ever mow a wet or frozen lawn. You'll just damage the grass and compact the soil.

Heard of 'No Mow May'? Here's My Take.

I'm a huge fan of this. As part of my Rewilding philosophy, I encourage clients to leave all or part of their lawn uncut for May. You will be amazed at the wildflowers that appear, and the bees and butterflies will thank you for it. You can always start mowing again in June, or leave it longer to develop into a proper summer meadow.

The Height: How Short Should You Go?

This is where a lot of people go wrong.

The Golden Rule: Never remove more than one-third of the grass height in a single cut.

If you let it get too long, don't just scalp it down to your desired height in one go. Do a high cut first, then a few days later, bring the blades down and cut it again.

And please, don't be tempted to mow it like a bowling green unless you're prepared for the work that goes with it! Cutting too short is one of the worst things you can do. It stresses the grass, encourages shallow roots, and opens the door for weeds and moss to move in.

For most family lawns in Totnes, a height of about 25mm (1 inch) in summer and a bit longer in spring and autumn is perfect.

Getting That Striped Look

Everyone loves a striped lawn. It looks professional and sharp, and it's not as hard as you think. The secret isn't some special technique; it's the mower. You need a mower with a rear roller.

Start by mowing a header and footer row at each end of the lawn. Then, just work your way up and down, slightly overlapping each stripe. For the best lawn health, I always recommend changing the direction of your stripes each time you mow—say, diagonals one week, straight the next.

A Word on Your Mower

Your mower is your most important tool for lawn care. The single best thing you can do for your lawn is keep the blades sharp. A blunt blade tears and rips the grass, leaving it bruised and open to disease. A sharp blade gives a clean cut, which means a healthier, better-looking lawn.

It’s been a busy week of putting this into practice. I’ve been doing full Garden Clearance jobs where the lawn had turned into a jungle, requiring a heavy-duty strimmer before the mower could even get near it. You can read the story of one of those jobs on my blog post: From Jungle to Garden: A Full Day's Reclaim in Totnes.

Whether you need a regular, reliable Grass Cutting service or a one-off rescue mission for a lawn that's gotten out of hand, I can help.

Contact me today, and let's get your lawn looking its best.

Grass Cutting