Best Time to Mow Your Lawn
Mowing lawns for some may be drudgery, but it is a labor of love for those that wish to maintain a healthy and well manicured lawn. Regular mowing insures healthy turf and mowing at the appropriate intervals will not only insure a beautiful lawn, but will provide sustenance for the root systems.
Most grasses should be maintained at a height of about 2 inches during the spring and fall and at 2½ -3 ½ inches during the hot summer months. The reason for the higher height during the summer insures that shade is provided for the underlying growth and higher growth enhances the retention of moisture in the soil, thereby reducing requirements for watering. Higher blades of grass also serve as a natural barrier to weed growth. The higher the grass is allowed to grow in the summer (without reaching excessive heights) the better it is.
The most critical rule for determining the best time to mow is to insure that no more than 1/3 of the grass blades are cut at any one time. Cutting more than this length will damage the grass. First, it will deposit more thatch in the form of cuttings on your lawn than is healthy and second, the root system and small shoots of growth will be quickly exposed to the harsh summer sun which causes stress on the plants.
The 1/3 rule means that grass will likely require more frequent mowing in the spring and fall when the grass has just been fertilized and is growing rapidly and less often during the hot summer months when growth is slower.
The best time of the day to mow is late in the day or during the evening. The fact is that mowing damages the plant and it will take a day or two for the grass to fully recover. Mowing in the evening provides about 12 hours of respite for the grass from the sun. Mowing in the morning means that the stressed grass will be subjected to the sun much quicker and if there is morning dew on the lawn the grass will be cheated from the rejuvenating effects of the moisture because mowing will hasten evaporation.
In short, the best time to mow the grass is when it needs it – keeping in mind the 1/3 rule and one should mow in the evenings to reduce stress on the grass.
I have tiff green bermuda and need to know the proper mowing procedure for cold So. Calif winter months I am considering asking my gardner to mow only every other week during the winter since the grass does not appear to be growing
[...] Mow your lawn: Mow your lawn when no more than 1/3 of the blades will be cut, late in the day or evening when the grass can recover before the sun comes out. [...]
My Bermuda has receded around the edges of our lawn. When ,or what Should I do. Should I re-seed or just wait and see what happens. I even have a lawn service who keeps telling me my lawn is fine. It’s literally died in patches and with the amount of rain we have had I would think it has recovered from the drought. Help
I have St. Augustine grass and I’ve allways mow in the morning. so your say i should mow about what time would be best. I live in Grand Prairie ,Texas please help because I’ve have alway for the last 3 year I’ve had the best lawn in my block and have gotten so many complements.
So brent you think i should be ok to mow in the morning and it won’t hurt my St. Austine grass
So Brent you think i should be ok to mow in the morning and it won’t hurt my St. Austine grass and what about 12:00 pm is it to late or should i wait until 5:00 pm will it be better
Is there such a thing of mowing to often. I keep my st aug at 3 1/4 “. Would it hurt if I mowed it every other day or every two days? My lawn is very thick and green. I keep a very sharp blade.