Mowing too soon, before the turf grass has begun to grow and thicken up, exposes the soil and over-wintering weed seeds to sunlight. Warmed by the sun, weeds germinate and grow rapidly, invading otherwise weed-free turf and resulting in a what can be a weed control problem for months.
Mowing the grass so early in the season, especially at a low mower setting is going to put that grass into survival stress. In March, unless it is incredibly warm in late February and into early March, the grass is still dormant or just beginning to awaken from its winter dormancy.
'When it comes to mowing your lawn, to minimize disturbance and maximize efficiency, the best time is in the morning, around 8am to 10am,' says Jeremy Yamaguchi, CEO of Lawn Love. 'This way, it's not too hot for physical exertion and not too early to wake everyone up.
When you're ready to give that first mowing in the spring, lower your mower height 1 or 2 notches so you're mowing your grass about 3 inches tall. Be careful not to scalp your lawn. This low mow will cut off the brown winter grass blades and open up the soil to the warm spring sunlight.
Temperatures should be consistently above 40 degrees F before you attempt your first mow of the spring. However, do not mow again if temperatures drop and there is frost. Mowing frosted or frozen grass can damage your lawn, possibly killing it.
Give your spring grass a chance to develop strong, healthy roots. This means waiting until it's at least 2 inches tall before mowing.
Mid morning or late afternoon is usually the best time to mow the lawn. If done too early in the morning the lawn will be damp with dew which can cause the grass to tear rather than cut cleanly, leading to disease. Midday can be too hot, the intense sun can stress the newly cut grass but it is not too bad a time.
Remember the mowing “rule of thumb”. For optimum turf health “try not to remove more than 1/3 of the leaf blade during any one single mowing”. For example, this means that for a lawn being maintained at 3 inches you should not be removing more than 1.5 inches of leaf tissue or mow when the turf reaches 4.5 inches.
It starts growing leaves faster so that it can replace the leaf you cut off or make up for being in the shade. This means the closer you mow the faster the grass grows! The grass plants future survival depends on it manufacturing food, which it can't do without an adequate amount of leaf.
Mowing every two weeks — instead of weekly — and not dousing grass with chemical herbicides and fertilizers, helps the environment and supports the health of bees, which are among the world's most important pollinators.
To minimize disturbance and maximize efficiency, the best time to mow your lawn is in the morning, around 8am to 10am. This way, it's not too hot for physical exertion, and it's late enough that the morning dew has dried.
No Mow May was first popularized by Plantlife, an organization based in the United Kingdom, but is now gaining traction across North America. The goal of No Mow May is to pause mowing during the month of May, allowing flowers to bloom in your lawn to help early season pollinators.
Most – though not all – experts agree that March, possibly late February, is the best time to start cutting a lawn again.
No Mow May has captured the public's attention in the last few years. The idea of not mowing a lawn during the month of May in order to promote flowers for early season pollinators was first promoted by a research paper that has since been retracted. But there is still quite a bit of public interest in the initiative.
If you let the grass grow taller, there is no need for the grass to tiller and your lawn thins out. Fungal diseases. In our wet climate, we get a lot of fungal diseases in late fall through spring. Tall grass makes matters much worse because there is no airflow, creating a perfect microclimate for fungal diseases.
Once your grass has come out of its dormant state, you may be wondering when you should start cutting it again. Generally speaking, if it is below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, it is still considered to be too cold to mow your lawn. The ideal temperatures to mow are between 50 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
Mowing actually helps make your grass grow thicker because the tip of each blade contains hormones that suppress horizontal growth. When you cut the lawn, you remove these tips allowing the grass to spread and grow thicker near the roots.
The short answer is yes, according to lawn care experts. Leaving grass clippings on the lawn can actually be healthy for the grass, as it helps build a strong and nutrient-rich soil. This practice is known as “grasscycling,” and it has become increasingly popular in recent years.
It depends on the type of grass. Kentucky bluegrass has runners that help it spread on its own. But many northern grasses are bunch-type grasses which don't spread, so seeding is needed to fill in bare spots. Perennial ryegrass and fescue are among the non-spreaders.
Fertilize the Grass
Apply spring fertilizer about three weeks after the grass starts greening or following the first two or three mowings. Apply too early and you risk feeding weeds and creating fertilizer runoff. Water your lawn a few days before applying fertilizer to avoid burning the roots.
Raise the mower height! Early Spring – We recommend the first cut to be at 1.5” to 2” then raise the blade to the regular setting. 2.5” to 3” is the ideal mowing height for most grass types.
However, if done properly and with attention to maintenance, spring might be a viable option. The best time to seed in the spring is mid-March through early April. Like fall seeding, the soil must first be prepared.
All cool-season grasses can be started from seed. These grasses grow best if seeded in September and October. The next best time to seed cool-season grasses is March - April.