When to Start Mowing Your Lawn in Spring
A lawn can be a homeowner’s pride and joy. Well-looked-after, dense and flourishing grass is an aesthetic success and a continued representation of the American Dream.
In a recent study, 76% of American homeowners who have a yard have said it’s the most essential part of their home. After the cold winter months, many lawn enthusiasts face the struggle of nursing their stressed turf back to health.
It’s a delicate time that can make all the difference during your lawn’s growing season. Following a quiet winter in terms of lawn care, you might be itching to start mowing your lawn as soon as spring growth appears.
Resist the mowing urge, take a step back and reevaluate. Timing is critical, so following these tips on the best time to mow your lawn in spring, you can get the most out of your grass all year.
When to Mow Your Lawn in the Spring
Looking for a specific date to start mowing your lawn in the spring?
Spoiler alert: there isn’t one. The answer depends on your region and grass species type. And, if this has made you wonder which grass species type is suited to your area, check out our blog post.
So, how do you know when the best time is to mow your lawn in the spring? It’s actually pretty simple. Key indicators like ideal grass height, temperature, and weather conditions can give you a good idea. Watch out for these three signs:
-
Temperature — Your turf might look deceivingly healthy, but don’t mow your lawn until temperatures are consistently reaching 50°F. Mowing your grass while it's frozen can end up damaging grass blades.
-
Height — If you're not reel mowing, wait for your grass to reach at least 2”-2.5” tall so the turf can develop strong and healthy roots. Remember to take off no more than a third of the grass blade length and continue mowing at least two times a week. For newly seeded lawns, cutting your grass too short won’t allow it to establish itself.
- Weather conditions — Cutting your grass while it's wet isn’t the best time to mow your lawn. Clumps of wet clippings can smother grass, clog up your mower and cause it to overheat. Wet grass clippings also make your mower’s underside hard to clean.
TOP TIP: If you’re waiting for all the conditions to be perfect for mowing, get busy sharpening mower blades for a clean cut, as torn grass is more vulnerable to disease. You can also do a lawn spring cleanup while you’re at it, dethatching and removing debris. This will ensure oxygen and water can easily reach the grassroots.
Once you meet all the above conditions, you can begin mowing your lawn in the spring. If your yard is waterlogged after your grass thaws and prevents you from mowing your lawn — take a look at our piece on lawn drainage solutions.
The Best Time to Mow Your Lawn in the Spring
Mowing your lawn at the correct time can make all the difference to achieving a greener lawn. During the day, you’ll want to mow your lawn when it’s dry. This equates to either mid-morning (8 am-10 am) or early evening — whenever the morning dew has evaporated, ideally when the sun is higher in the sky.
Spring Lawn Care: Mowers
For the best quality grass, try using a reel lawn mower (also known as a cylinder mower) which cuts turf cleanly like a pair of scissors. This will minimize turf damage as your grass regains its strength after dormancy.
Lawn Care in the Spring
By now, you should be fully equipped to know when to start mowing your lawn in the spring. But — mowing isn’t the only thing that should be on your mind. Between February and April, apply lawn fertilizer and make sure to water your lawn with an inch of water around once a week. Our top recommendation is Humic Max Granular Lawn Fertilizer. Between May and June, sustain keen grass growth with some more fertilizer and give your grass a healthy, fighting chance for the year to come.
Related: When Is the Best Time to Fertilize Your Lawn?
Boost your grass with nutrients and encourage strong grass growth. Browse our range of specially chosen lawn fertilizers and improve the appearance of your lawn today.
Perry Jordan
Mar 05, 2023
Good morning, I must say you have a first-class website, I like every bit of it, especially the Q@A. I have one now if you don’t mindCa. I live in the state of Ma. and intend to apply for pre-emergent before too long. I planted about 50-60 ornamental shrubs now going on two years (in the ground) When can I safely plant? Thank you very much