How Recently Did You Fertilize
Spring is a great time to fertilize your lawn because of its high rate of new growth. Like a child going through a growth spurt, the grass consumes nutrients at a much faster rate than normal. Both early and late spring are ideal times to fertilize. Just remember that you have to give the nutrients a chance to be absorbed before you mow, so time accordingly.
Prepare Your Lawn For The First Lawn Cut
Once youre ready to start mowing, take some time to prepare your lawn. It will have collected debris over the winter. Plus, now is a good time to incorporate other lawn treatments to ensure you get a bright green lawn in the following few weeks:
- Remove debris, including sticks and leftover leaves
- Balance soil pH levels
- Aerate the lawn if it has developed thatch
- Add grass seeds to bare or struggling patches
When And How To Mow Your Lawn
When its time to mow, never cut more than a third of the grass blades length in a single mowing. This rule applies all throughout the mowing season. If you mow with the blade too low and shear off too much of the grass blades, youre taking away nutrients stored there.
Taller grass can hold its own better against weeds, thanks to a larger root system and a higher tolerance for heat. It also shades the ground, allowing the soil to retain water more effectively.
Need another reason to remove only the top third of the blades? Easy. The smaller clippings left behind decompose more easily. You can leave them behind and let the organic matter enrich your soil.
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When To Mow The Lawn
The lawn care and mowing calendar is not the same in Aberdeen as it is in York and its different again in Brighton.
Im used to the climate in Yorkshire so here is the Lawnsmith Yorkshire Mowing Calendar. If you are in Aberdeen youll be running a week or two behind in the spring and a week or two ahead in autumn. The reverse will be true for those basking in Brighton!
Growth will be starting in spring so start your lawn mowing with a high cut on preferably dry grass if possible.
Sometime this month as temperature and growth increases frequency will increase with 2weeks then 10 days then perhaps down to weekly mowing.
May & June Mow frequently during this time weekly if possible. You can also lower the cutting height but I wouldnt go below about 4cm unless youre wanting more work than necessary.
- If dry, growth will slow but do mow at least every two weeks
- If hot and dry: as above but raise the mowing height
- If moisture levels are good mow as for May & June
The autumn rains make the end of August and September a good growing time so mow frequently. You can also lower the cut if you raised it for the summer but if your lawn is prone to moss you want to be raising the mowing height not lowering it.
Mowing will all but finish so raise the cut to winter height.
More than likely the last regular cut of the year. If you have a rotary mower use it on a dry lawn to suck up autumn leaves.
Best Weather Conditions For Mowing
Its generally not a good idea to cut wet grass after it rains, so mow when its sunny or the ground is dry. Mowing wet grass is bad for several reasons. Leaving clumps of wet clippings could smother the grass beneath. Wet grass can clog the mower, causing it to overheat, and stick to the mowers underside, which is difficult to clean. And no matter how much traction you think your shoes have, you can easily slip on wet grass.
So dont mow first thing in the morning if the grass is damp with dew. Wait until the lawn has dried out. Early evening is the optimal mowing time since it allows the grass the most shade to heal.
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What Is The Temperature
Most people dont know this but, grass actually never stops growing. Growth is just really slow in the fall and winter months.
When the temperature drops below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, the grass will not grow high enough to warrant mowing.
A week of consistent temperatures below 40 degrees will close the door on the lawnmower for the season.
If you have a yard in Clarksville, Tennessee, or surrounding areas, this cool temperature may not occur until late November.
Don’t Mow All Of Your Lawn
Choose the part you’d like to be neat and tidy but then let the rest stay a little messy. This is much better for wildlife and will encourage habitats to flourish throughout summer. You could even plant some wildflower seeds here and make it a real visual feature of your garden .
“Don’t mow all of your lawn. Find a corner of your garden where you can allow it to become, dare I say it, a little bit unkempt,” implored Chris Packham during an interview with Country Living about spring gardening. “That long grass will provide food for butterflies and other invertebrates and shelter for other animals maybe even something as exciting as a hedgehog.”
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Other Helpful Maintenance Articles
Is It Better To Water Plants In The Morning Or At Night? Are you wondering is it better to water plants in the morning or at night? And does tea and coffee really benefit your plants? Find out the truth here!
How To Maintain Your House The Spring Home Maintenance Checklist With spring around the corner it makes perfect sense to check what maintenance your house may need for the season and the coming months ahead
How Deep Should Fence Posts Be In The Ground Forget all those silly calculations for digging holes, follow this simple formula and your fence will be up in no time
How Early Is Too Early To Mow Your Lawn
What month do you start cutting grass? Unfortunately, theres no date on the calendar that you can circle to mark the first day of lawn mowing. If only it were that easy! Instead, there are certain conditions to meet to ensure the lawn is ready for that first cut.
In the southeast, youre less likely to be contending with the effects of ground freeze, but you are very likely to have a water-saturated lawn. A wet spring can cause an increase in damp growth that can be more difficult to mow. Thats why you will want to pay close attention to weather conditions and carefully assess your lawn. If your lawn is very wet, you might want to scale back your mowing schedule until the grass dries out and instead focus on other areas of prep.
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Spring Lawn Mowing Tips
You should never remove more than one-third of the total height of the grass in any single cutting. Spring fertilizing and heavy spring rains can cause lots of heavy growth so just be sure to keep the one-third rule in mind. It may take several small mows to get a flushing spring lawn to the desired growing season height of three inches. Be sure to wait at least 3 days between those mows to allow the plants to recover from the stress.
Dont mow in the same direction every time. Repeated mows in the same direction can stimulate horizontal instead of vertical growth. It is recommended to mow at right angles to the direction of the previous mowing.
When Should You Start Mowing Your Lawn In The Spring
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After spending the chilly winter months in dormancy, grass awakens in the spring in need of some tender loving care, including a good mowing. Delivering care at the right time and in the proper way is crucial for preparing grass for the intensity of the summer growing season, when the temperatures rise and the sun takes its toll.
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What Time Of Day Is Best To Cut The Grass
You may not realize it, but when it comes to ideal lawn care, there is even a best time of day to trim your lawn. The best time to start mowing is in the mid-morning, or between the hours of 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. At that time the sun is higher in the sky and the grass has dried out a bit from the early morning dew and any irrigation. If morning isnt a good option for you, then cutting your grass in the late afternoon also helps limit fungal diseases. You should avoid trimming your lawn in the heat of the middle of the day, as this can damage new growth.
When To Start Mowing Lawn And Proper Mowing Techniques
The end of winter means one thing for many of us in the Southern states: the brutal heat of summer isnt far away. To look on the bright side, everything comes to life again during the springtime. Insects and other animals emerge from their winter hiding spots and plants and flowers begin to bloom once more.
Just like all other living things in your backyard, your grass will also begin to grow. While your initial inclination might be to get out the lawnmower on the first day of sunshine and warmth, knowing how and when to start mowing your lawn will be the first step in giving your grass the care it needs to survive our dry and hot summers.
In this post, well dive into the dos and donts of mowing your grass, including how to properly cut and care for your lawn after the winter months up until the growth of your grass slows down.
What Youll Learn:
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And If Your Grass Is Really Out Of Control
If your lawn has been a little unkempt throughout the colder months and has grown with a mind of its own then fear not, still follow the one third rule but take it in stages over a number of weeks. Gradually decrease the cutting height on your lawnmower each time to reach your preferred grass length.
But only apply this to the smaller area you’d like to maintain, as mentioned above. Embrace the wildness in the rest of the lawn and allow it to flourish.
How Often To Mow Lawn Areas
Mowing grass from your lawn areas not only keeps it neat and clean but also keeps it fresh and healthy. To make your lawn look more beautiful and healthier, it is important to mow your lawn regularly.
Now you might have a question in your mind that how often to mow the lawn? Is there any time gap in mowing the lawn in spring, summer, or fall season? To make the decisions easy for you, below are the few things you can consider when mowing your lawn areas.
You can check the length of your lawn grass and decide whether it needs mowing or not. It is good to keep the grass height at an ideal height not to look messed up or something.
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When Should I Mow My Lawn For The First Time In Spring
Spring is literally just around the corner and maybe you are already wondering when should I mow my lawn for the first time in spring?
Well, the basic rule of thumb when cutting your lawn for the first time in spring, is to make sure the grass is preferably dry and to adjust your lawnmower to the highest cutting height to just nip off the tips of the grass , simple.
But its not just spring you need to be concerned about, what about the other seasons, summer, autumn and winter?
Each month through those seasons will need a different approach to get the most out of your lawn.
When Does The Spring Lawn Mowing Season Start
Stop using your calendar! With the varying winters we have here in the North Shore your ideal time to start spring lawn care can vary widely from season to season. The best way to know when to start lawn mowing is to take a serious look at your turf.
If you gave your lawn a nice close cut in the fall, you should wait until your grass starts to grow out to a height of at least three inches. Waiting until then gives the grass a chance to put down some nice new root growth.
Grass that is allowed to grow taller also puts down deeper roots which means your grass is better able to stand up to the drought and heat stress that will be here soon.
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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.
When Can I Start Cutting My Lawn Again
So, why can you start cutting your lawn again in spring? Most though not all experts agree that March, possibly late February, is the best time to start cutting a lawn again.
The experts at Johnsons Lawn Seed advise gardeners to ensure all chances of frost has passed before cutting the lawn again, and to ensure that it isnt too wet: ‘If grass is still frozen or you have a random overnight frost, keep well away from it, as you will easily break off tender green shoots,’ they say, adding, ‘grass will be growing again as soon as the temperature rises above 42ºF/6ºC.’
David Truby, MD of Greensleeves , a lawn care franchise, disagrees: ‘Its actually a common misconception that theres a specific time of year to mow your lawn. Grass growth slows and becomes increasingly dormant during winter, but its growth certainly doesnt stop completely, and neither should mowing your lawn. The trick is to continue mowing your lawn as needed, never allowing it to become too long as this can significantly reduce the quality and potentially increase the severity of a moss invasion.’
Our advice? Take a middle path: if your grass looks like it needs cutting again, the conditions are right, and the long-term weather forecast is favorable, it is okay to begin cutting a lawn again doing so should make a lawn green and thick.
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When Should You Not Cut Your Grass
Just as there are better times during the day to mow your lawn, there are better times of the year. While youll be maintaining your lawn with twice-weekly trims during the summer high-growth cycle, once the temperature drops below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, the grass will not grow high enough to warrant mowing. You also dont want to cut your grass too short, so be sure to check the recommended height for your variety so you dont risk damaging fragile roots.
Are You Overseeding This Year
Overseeding is another common activity in spring. This is typically done before fertilizing, so youll need to set up a schedule of seeding, mowing, and fertilizing that wont cause further damage. In most cases, youll have to plan on not mowing until later in spring . If youre interested in renting a slit seeder, find a rental location here. You can also hire this to be done by a landscape contractor.
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How Often To Mow Lawn In Summer
Summer brings warmer weather, out of school kids, and thriving lawns.
After a cold winter, things are flowering, and everything is looking up. Because of the warmer weather, your grass will grow faster than in the colder months, and in early summer it might even grow faster than it did during the spring.
This means that you will have to mow your lawn more often. The question is, how often do you need to mow your lawn in summertime?
Keep in mind as you read, all lawns are different. Just because your neighbor might mow his or her lawn every two weeks and his lawn looks great, doesnt mean that you should do the same.
As I detailed in the spring section, the amount your grass grows depends heavily on your lawn care routine.
- How tall was your grass initially?
- Are you planning on fertilizing your grass this season?
- Are you going to overseed?
- Will it be hotter or colder?
- Do you have an irrigation system or are you relying on mother nature to supply the water for your grass?
Like in Spring, it is important to follow the one-third rule when mowing your lawn so the length you want to keep your lawn will determine how frequently you need to mow it.
However, experts recommend that you keep your grass longer in the summer than you would in the springtime. The recommended length for your lawn in the summer months is roughly three inches.
Longer grass helps to sustain your lawn during periods of drought, which can happen during the summer months.
