When should I stop mowing my lawn in South East London?

Between the first week of November and the first week of December. Stop when you have had a week of days that never got above 7°C, and the grass has grown less than a centimetre in seven days. The calendar is not the signal.

Can I cut the grass in November if it is still growing?

Yes, and you should. Grass that goes into winter too long mats down and smothers itself. Raise the blade to 4cm, pick a dry day with firm ground, and cut it.

Is it bad to cut grass when there has been a frost?

Yes. Frozen blades are brittle and snap rather than cut, leaving brown wheel marks and footprints that stay until spring. Wait until the afternoon once the lawn has thawed.

How short should the last cut of the year be?

4cm, a little over an inch and a half, higher than a summer cut on purpose. Longer grass keeps the plant fed through the dark months and shades out the moss that moves into a thin lawn in January.

What if the lawn is too wet to mow?

Leave it. Press a finger into the turf, and if water pools in the dent the soil is saturated. Walking on wet London clay squeezes the air out and the roots suffocate. Wait for two or three dry days.

Do you do garden visits through the winter?

Yes, Monday to Saturday, 9am to 6pm, closed Sundays. December to February is mostly leaves, pruning, hedges and clearance rather than cutting. Our garden maintenance service runs all year.

How much does a one-off last cut cost?

£83 for the first hour and £65 for every hour after, for a two-person team with tools included, and that is our rate. Most small gardens are 1 to 2 hours. There is no minimum charge.

Should I leave fallen leaves on the grass over winter?

No, not on the grass. A wet leaf mat blocks light and moisture and leaves you yellow patches or bare soil by March. Leaves in beds and borders can stay where they land, which is what the RHS advises.