When Should You Put Down Winter Fertilizer
At the latest, you should fertilize for winter when the grass stops growing but is still green on top, which indicates root activity below.
Once the temperatures plunge below 50 degrees and the growth stops completely, it is time to put your mower away. And that is also when you put away the bag of fertilizer.
What Is The Best Time I Can Mow My Lawn
However, legalities aside, there are actually some rules about the best practices for mowing your lawn from a practical standpoint. If you want the best for your lawn, most landscaping professionals would recommend you do it after 8:00am and before noon. Think about it! Any earlier and your grass will still be wet from the dew. Wet grass is not as easy to cut and it is harder to clean up. For some cheaper mowers, it could even damage the blades. Not only that but by cutting your lawn before noon you avoid being stuck in the hot sun for too long! You could also do this in the early afternoon when the sun has started to fall but, after 6:00pm is when dew starts to form on your lawn, so the consensus is make sure to mow your lawn before 6:00pm.
If you mow your grass too late you can risk bacteria and fungus growing in your lawn. By mowing the lawn, you weaken the grass and it needs a few hours to recover from the trauma of being cut. When you combine that weakened state with moisture it makes your grass a prime place for bad organisms to grow. That being said, if you live in a warmer and drier climate, you probably do not get a lot of dew and this should not be a huge concern.
Are Magnolias In Bloom
Since Magnolia trees start to bloom when the soil reaches ideal growth temperature, in February or March. Their blooms make a perfect marker for when to begin mowing.
These blooms confirm that the lawn has indeed awake and stable enough for cutting.
Magnolia trees flourish in most parts of the United States, so this is a great barometer to know when to start cutting the grass.
Also Check: Lowes Rent Lawn Mower
Is It Ok To Cut Grass In The Winter
As long as the turf isnt blanketed in snow or frost, it is safe to mow it.
But, once the grass blades are covered in frost keep off the yard or you risk breaking and crushing the frozen blade. In fact, your humble lawn mower will do the same damage to the turf as a cement roller if you try working on the yard while the grass is under ice/frost.
That said, even in fall, ensure that you dont mow in wet conditions.
The soaked grass blades and the wet soil will make mowing a messy affair. To add to the problem, the mower will easily gouge out the grass plants by their roots if the mud wet.
Are You Allowed To Cut Grass At Night
For the most part, its not illegal to mow your lawn at night, because theres no law in any of the 50 states that restricts you from doing so. So, whether its your dog barking excessively or youre running your lawn mower across your lawn at night, you are in essence being a nuisance to your neighbors.
Also Check: Violet Weeds In Lawn
Don’t Water Immediately After
It’s best to avoid getting into the habit of watering your lawn immediately after mowing. There is no specific point in the month to give your lawn a hose down it should simply be done whenever it needs moisture however, there are a few guidelines on what time it should be done during the day:
- Watering late in the evening or at night can lead to fungal problems due to the fact the grass doesn’t have time to dry out.
- The middle of the day tends to be when the sun is at its hottest, which can lead to the water evaporating instantly or the droplets acting as a magnifying glass, burning the blades of grass.
- Therefore, the best time is first thing in the morning as the air is cool and the water can travel to the roots before drying up.
Why You Should Not Keep Grass Blades Longer Than Recommended
Leave those grass blades longer than 3 inches and when snow hits, they will buckle under the weight and will get matted to the ground or to the other blades. In both cases, airflow around the blades gets disrupted.
The lack of air, and the moisture supplied by snow create a rife environment for fungal growth.
So, if you dont mow as much as required and when required, come spring, there is a good chance that you will be greeted by the notorious pinkish-gray snow mold instead of the lush greenery that you expect.
Don’t Miss: Lawn Rolling Prices
Was The Lawn Left Too Long Last Fall
If the lawns final mow last season was not below 3 inches, and its now March/April, its time to begin mowing.
Leaving the grass too long in the winter can cause the grass to become matted and encourage winter diseases, such as pink and grey snow mold.
For best results, only remove the top 1/3 of the grass on this initial mow as this will rejuvenate the turf and wake it up faster when the sun hits.
Mowing Practices For Healthy Lawns
Lawn mowing is more time consuming than any other lawn-care practice. Regular mowing with a sharp mower blade at the proper height will help keep grass growing vigorously and maintain adequate density. Proper mowing practices contribute to a healthy lawn and minimal weeds, and, if you leave grass clippings on your lawn, contribute to lawn nutrition. Typically, the species of grasses used in Minnesota lawns are Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, and fescues.
Read Also: Removing Violets From Lawn
When Is The Best Time To Mow Your Texas Lawn
There are a lot of advantages to living in North Texas. One of those is that its fairly easy to grow a lush and beautiful lawn. This is the part of the country where grass thrives, but that does mean you have to tend to the grass. Mowing isnt rocket science, but a few tips and tricks can help you mow more efficiently and take better care of your grass. One of the most important tips is knowing when to mow, and thats what youre about to learn.
When Should You Apply Winter Fertilizer
The fertilizer can be applied in one or two sessions. If you are only going for one application, mid-autumn, around mid to end of October, would be a good time for it.
Go for 1 pound nitrogen/1000 sq. ft. if you had good growth and 2 pound nitrogen/1000 sq. ft. if the growth was weak.
For two sessions, this is what you should do:
1. The first application should be in early fall or even at the very end of summer. Your lawn will need to pound of nitrogen for each 1000 sq.ft.
2. The second application should be when the growth has slowed down considerably. For this application, you will have to provide 1 pound nitrogen/1000 sq. ft.
The thing about fall/winter fertilizer application is that it is not meant to boost immediate turf performance. You are simply supplying the food that the plant will need to tide over winter and grow back in spring.
So, if you fertilize too early, you fueling succulent growth and if you hold it off for too long, the fertilizer will not get enough time to penetrate the soil layers and make it to the plant roots.
Recommended Reading: Kill Creeping Charlie But Not Grass
Dont Make This Common Lawn Care Mistake
Never mow with dull blades!
Most people arent aware of this, but sharp blades are more important than the time of day in which you mow. Seriously, make sure that your blades are sharp!
This may not seem important, but it really is. Sharp blades will affect the lawn more so than the time of day that you mow. Why is that? Well If your blades are not sharp then the lawn will become torn. This is because dull blades will not make a clean cut, but will instead tear the grass apart! This can make the perfect entryway for disease and fungal infections.
And, thats NOT GOOD
Check out the below video of a lawn mower in slow motion, and you can see why sharp blades are so important.
What Time Can I Start Mowing
best time to mowgrassperfecttrim
. In respect to this, what time is OK to start mowing?
In general, mow after 8 a.m. on weekdays and after 9 a.m. on weekends to avoid annoying your neighbors, a Knight Ridder/Chicago Tribune article recommends from results of a water-cooler survey. Mowing while neighbors prepare for bed at night can be frustrating for them.
Also Know, what time is it OK to mow in the morning? The best time to start lawn mowing is in the mid-morning, or between the hours of 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. The sun is higher in the sky and at this time grass has dried out a bit from the early morning dew and any irrigation.
Also, is 7am too early to mow lawn?
It is too early to mow your lawn if the grass is still wet or damp from the dew that accumulates over night. It won’t kill it if you mow it wet but then it isn’t good for your mower or your lawn either one and can cause some problems.
What time can you start mowing your lawn UK?
Mowing is carried out mainly between March and October. Over summer: On average, mow twice weekly, dropping to once a week during periods of drought. Over spring and autumn: Mow once a week. Over winter: Mowing is usually not necessary, unless the weather is mild and the grass is still growing.
You May Like: Borax Creeping Charlie Recipe
The Best Time Of Day To Cut The Grass And Why It Matters
Theres more to mowing the lawn than many people think.
Aside from knowing when to cut the grass throughout the year, how often you should mow, and how to mow the lawn properly, have you ever thought about the best time of day to cut the grass?
Now, there are varying opinions as to which is the best part of the day to mow the lawn.
Some experts say it matters, others say it doesnt.
Im on the side which believes it does matter. At least, if you care enough about your lawn to want to make it as healthy and as lush as possible.
How Noisy Is Your Lawnmower
The noise level of a lawnmower depends on its make and model. But research shows that a typical mower can emit sounds as loud as 80 to 89 decibels . These numbers bring you closer to the danger zone, with prolonged exposure increasing the risk for hearing damage. Although the distance between your lawnmower and your neighbour is enough to protect the latter from hearing loss, the noise can be irritating and cause them to file complaints against you.
Don’t Miss: Trugreen Plans And Pricing
What Happens If You Cut Turf Shorter Than Recommended
Both warm and cool-season kinds of grass, store food to get through the dormant phase. This food is stored in the crown of the grass plant which is the part just above the ground.
Cutting the blades too short shocks the plants and makes the crown vulnerable to freezing temperatures, not to mention that a close crop may actually end up damaging the crown.
Also, a very short trim can cause a freeze burn when the temperature gets close to or goes below freezing. This can permanently damage the exposed plants.
Even if you have a few days to go before freezing temperatures come knocking, very short grass blades have trouble absorbing the required amount of sunlight. So, they offer weeds the opportunity to hog up the sunlight and grow unabated.
Moreover, a close shave for the turf can stunt the development of the root system of new plants. And if all of that is not enough, going shorter than 2-2.5 inches will drive the plant to dip into their winter reserve of nutrients to regain the lost height.
How Late In The Season Should You Mow Your Lawn
The winter months typically mean that homeowners in Ann Arbor Michigan can take a much-needed break from mowing their lawns. After all, during the warmer months of the year, you may find yourself mowing and edging your yard on a weekly basis. During the colder months of the year, most grass types fall into a state of dormancy, and they will have minimal or no growth. More than that, in the local area, they often will be covered with inches or even feet of snow at times. This means that mowing may be both unnecessary and even impossible at times.
When to Avoid MowingDuring the dead of winter when snow and ice are on the ground, you should definitely avoid mowing. You should also avoid mowing when your ground is wet from rain, regardless of the temperature. Mowing wet grass can damage your mower, and it also can damage your grass blades. If you choose to mow during the colder weather season, choose a time when there is no moisture on the ground. It can be difficult to find a time when the grass is completely dry and the temperature is above freezing in the winter months in Ann Arbor Michigan, and because of this, most choose not to mow.
Recommended Reading: Herbicide To Kill Creeping Charlie
The Best Time Of Day To Mow Your Lawn
If you want to get the absolute most from your lawn care routine, stick to mowing the lawn in the mid-morning or late afternoon.
These times of day offer the perfect balance of temperature and moisture for a healthy, clean-cut yard.
Of course, you dont always have control over when you take care of your backyard. Heres what you should know about the risks and benefits of mowing your lawn at different times of day:
When Is The Best Time To Mow Your Lawn
Your grass will appreciate it if you mowed later in the am, like from 9-11 over the summer months, as that will give your grass time to recover throughout the day, plus the morning. dew should have dried up by then.
Final Thoughts
- Getting back to the big question is it illegal to mow your lawn at night? Of course not, its your lawn and your lawn mower!
- But, if you crank up your gasoline-powered or noisy electric lawn mower at night and disturb your neighbors sweet dreams, expect to have them invite the police for disturbing the peace.
- To save yourself from legal consequences, you can simply hire your neighbors kid to cut your lawn for you during the day.
Read Also: Who Makes Greenworks
The Best Time To Mow Your Lawn Without Annoying Your Neighbors
You might say that the best time to mow your lawn is when youre home to do it, but in reality that might not be the best time. If you work the classic nine-to-five, plus commute, that might put lawn mowing in conflict with both your neighbors and the health of your lawn.
Consider this: Your lawn and your neighbors, are living organisms, and react differently to different stimuli. Mow your lawn at 5 am, and you wont only be doing harm to your lawn, but also to your relationship with your community. So here the best and worst times of day to mow your lawn so you can plan accordlingly:
Last Lawn Cut Before Winter
As the temperatures plummet, your lawn will get ready to go into hibernation, and once that happens, there will be little scope and requirement for care. But, what you do for your lawn before the freeze hits, including the last lawn cut before winter, will determine the performance of your grass when spring comes visiting.
Mow too soon and the growth that ensues will create a rife environment for the dreaded mold and moss. Mow too late and you will be stressing grass that is already dormant. Then, there is the big question about how adventurous you ought to be getting with that lawnmower.
There are those who believe that their lawn warrants a crew cut before it retires for winter. Some others feel that a bit of length will give the turf a head start when the freeze begins to thaw.
Simply put, there are a lot of conflicting views out there. So, if you are not sure about how to handle your lawn before winter-assault begins, continue reading to know everything there is to trimming the turf before the brrrrrr-season.
The last lawn cut before winter can make or break the performance of your yard in spring. If you get the height and the timing correct, you can help the plants to survive the coldest of winters and come out greener and thicker than ever before.
Don’t Miss: Lawn Mowing Quote Calculator
A Perfect Lawn Calls For Perfect Timing
While mowing too early can make lawn striping near-impossible, mowing too late can actually affect your grasss health.
For a healthy lawn that looks great:
- Mow in the mid-morning or late-afternoon.
- Only mow at midday in cool temperatures.
- Avoid mowing in the early morning or evening.
- Let the morning dew dry before mowing the grass.
- Be considerate of your neighbors when deciding the best time of day to mow lawn.
Whats your favorite time of day to tackle lawn work? Are you an early bird or a night owl? Let us know in the comments below!
