Here’s exactly when to start mowing your lawn, depending on your growing conditions and grass key in.

Should you start your engines after a warm spell and a soaking rain in early spring?

The right combination of hours of sunlight, air temperature, and moisture spurs grass growth.

Mower mowing green grass

Credit:Andrija Nikolic / Getty Images

The grass develops new roots in early spring, long before the green leaves emerge.

Dont be concerned about mowing if the forecast predicts a short warm spell.

Letgrass heightbe your final guide.

Reducing the leaf blade by over one-third compromises a plants ability to make energy essential for life.

Spring conditions cause the grass to grow quickly.

Watch the height closely so you dont remove more than one-third of the leaf blade whenever you mow.

Resist the urge to lower your mower deck.

Tall grass also acts to shade weeds and keep the soil cool in summer.

Mow cool-season grass more frequently.

Cool-seasontypes of grassgrow fast in spring.

This rapid growth of a cool-season lawn will likely end as soon as summer growing conditions are prevalent.

Warm-season grasses ramp up growth when the mercury rises; they require more frequent mowing in summer.

Go easy on fertilizer.

Temper rapid spring growth by skipping the early spring fertilizer, which promotes fast green-up and growth.

The turf gets enough nutrients from the soil, and from grass clippings left in place.

Iffertilizer is needed, apply it in late spring after the initial burst of growth.

Leave the clippings.

Grass clippings are free fertilizer.

The clippings quickly decompose, adding nutrients to the soil in the process.

Wait to sharpen mower blades.

Wait tosharpen mower bladesuntil after the first two or three times you mow.

Sticks and debris often greet mower blades during the first mowing sessions of the season.