Take the guesswork out of deciding when to mow your lawn with our easy-to-follow tips.
GROSS & DALEY
Mow your yard at the right time for a host of benefits.
From healthy turf growth to less lawn maintenance,timing matters when it comes to mowing.
Credit:GROSS & DALEY
Lawn grass responds to mowing by using available resources to push up new growth and lengthen leaf blades.
Use this summary to know when to mow andjust as importantwhen not to mow.
Each turf species has an optimal cutting height.
Be sure your mower deck is set to thebest height for the jot down of grass you are growing.
If your turf gets overly long, reduce its height to the desired level over a couple of mowings.
Aim to never remove more than one-third of the leaf mass at a time.
Mow grass when the leaf blades are completely drytypically between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Midday mowing ensures morning dew has evaporated from the blades.
Mow before the weeds set seed.
Time mowing to control weeds by mowing them off before they set seed.
When mowing for weed control, you may be minimally cutting the grass.
Mow before the grass flowers.
Grass pollen is the cause of many allergy symptoms.
If you battle outdoor allergies, aim to cut grass before it gets tall enough to flower.
Most lawn grass species flower in late spring on stems taller than the standard lawn height.
Avoid an allergy response to grass pollen by regularly maintaining grass at the standard mowing height for the species.
Consider your neighbors.
Most lawn mowers are noisy.
Consider your neighbors when mowing, and avoid mowing in the early morning and late evening.
Also, be sensitive to outdoor gatherings.
Delay mowing if your neighbors are enjoying their outdoor space.
When Not to Mow Your Lawn
Avoid getting the mower out in these situations.
Dont mow when the grass is wet.
Wet grass does not cut cleanly.
In addition,wet lawn clippingsfall on the lawn in clumps that can smother grass.
Dont mow soon after applying herbicide.
Mowing is a form of stress for lawn grass, and so is herbicide software.
Wait several days after the system to give the product time to move into the weeds root systems.
Dont mow new sod.
Wait several weeksbefore mowing new sod, sprigs, plugs, or stolons.
Test the new turf by trying to lift it out of the soil.
If it is firmly rooted in the native soil, you could mow.
Dont mow with dull blades.
Dont mow a newly seeded lawn.
Wait until a newly seeded lawn is at least 3 inches tall before mowing.
Remove 12 inch or 1 inch of growth at the first mowing.
Mow regularly to promote a thick stand of grass with a healthy root system.
Dont mow a dormant lawn.
Dry, brown turf is likely dormantdue to summer conditions or cold temperatures.
Dormant turf is growing very minimally.
There is no need to mow it until it turns green again.
