As the season for outdoor activities and lawn maintenance kicks into high gear, it's important to avoid making one common mistake that could ruin your garden.

According to the experts at the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), one of the cardinal sins of lawn care is mowing wet grass.

The RHS warns against this practice as mowing damp turf can lead to damage and soil compaction.

They said: "Never mow wet grass. This can damage your turf and compact the soil.

Wait until later in the day when the lawn has dried out, or postpone mowing to another day."

The society has started a “No Mow May” movement recommending refraining from mowing altogether, giving grass, weeds, and wildflowers free rein to thrive.

“But your lawn can help! A healthy lawn with some long grass and wildflowers benefits wildlife, tackles pollution and can even lock away carbon below ground.

"With over 20 million gardens in the UK, even the smallest grassy patches add up to a significant proportion of our land which, if managed properly, can deliver enormous gains for nature, communities and the climate."

Sir David Attenborough echoed those comments on BBC's Wild Isles documentary when he urged people to delay mowing their lawns until "mid-July".

He added: "It's all about the timing. Delaying mowing until mid-July allows birds and insects to complete their breeding and flowers to set their seed."