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.
'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.
Early risers should wait a while before jump-starting their day by mowing the lawn. Early morning grass will still hold moisture from dew or overnight showers that yet to be be absorbed by the grass or evaporated by the sun. Cutting grass despite the presence of moisture is not a good idea.
Basically, the standard for lawn care etiquette is not to mow before the typical breakfast time and do your best to stop mowing before the typical dinner time. Sound ordinances can vary all over, but the general time frame is usually from 9am to 6pm on weekdays and 10am to 6pm on weekends.
'The least acceptable times are before 8am and after 8pm when most people are seeking rest and relaxation,' says expert gardener Diana Cox, founder of The Gardening Talk.
If you use a push mower (not powered), there is no problem. If you use an electric mower, evaluate the noise. The answer is “maybe”. If you use a gas powered mower, then Yes, it is bad etiquette at 6 am.
what temperature is “too hot” to mow grass. When temperatures go beyond 80°F, your cool-season grass may begin to struggle. And when high temperatures last for extended periods of time, it can cause your grass' growth to slow down and its vibrant green color to fade.
'As long as your blades are sharpened, and the grass isn't not soaking wet, mowing in the early morning dew is totally fine,' says Douglas Dedrick.
How often should you mow? Normally, weekly mowing is the rule, but some lawns need cutting more often. Other lawns will grow more slowly and might need cutting only once every ten days or two weeks. Generally, don't cut off more than one third of the grass blade.
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.
Mowing too soon, before the turf grass has begun to grow and thicken up, exposes the soil and over-wintering weed seeds to sunlight.
If you wait until the middle of the morning, then you have enough time for the morning dew on the grass to dry. The ideal time is between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. Plus, you also avoid possibly getting heat exhaustion or sunburn by working outside in the midday sun.
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.
Mowing wet grass, even dewy grass, does damage to your lawn as well. Rather than getting a clean cut on each grass-blade, you'll tear the grass which opens a door to fungus which can kill your lawn.
9am is totally fine.
Areas where grass blades were cut too short will usually recover slowly, but the brown patches may be evidence that you cut into the crown (growing point) of some grass plants and killed them. If the dead patches are no more than a few inches in diameter, grass regrowth may fill in the bare spots.
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.
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.
Frequently mowing your yard, (if you're following the correct practices), does help to thicken your grass. As long as you don't cut more than 1/3 off the top, and keep the total leaf height to at least 5cm, regular mowing keeps your grass healthy, and promotes lateral growth.
When dealing with mild morning dew or after light rain showers, you may only need to wait between 2 and 5 hours for the lawn to dry before mowing. With a heavier rainstorm, you should wait at least one day to mow safely. Shady areas of the lawn will take longer to dry than those in the sun.
It's best to wait for wet grass to dry before mowing. Wet grass clippings can clog your mower, causing it to choke and spit out clumps of wet grass that could smother and kill your lawn if left unraked.
Cutting wet grass can dull the blade more quickly. Clean blades thoroughly before and after mowing a lawn when wet to keep the cut as sharp as possible. Stop and turn off the mower to check your blades as you go along, to clear any clogs that may form on the underside or at the side discharge.
AVOID MOWING DURING EXTREME HEAT When your lawn is particularly stressed from heat or drought, it can be limited in its ability to recover from mowing and can be damaged even more. Instead, mow the grass after a rainfall or after irrigation day.
Can You Water Grass After Mowing? Yes, you can water grass after mowing, however it is healthy to water it but only if it requires it. Watering will help the mowed blades perk up and survive being cut better. Take care not to water a lawn overwatered or from noon till late into the night.
Between irrigation and natural rainfall, your grass should receive between 1 and 1.5 inches of water each week during the summer. Water deeply every other day for the best results.