It’s about that time for all of us to get out in the yard and enjoy the peaceful escape of mowing our lawns! For some, you’ve been lucky enough to get your first or second mow in already. For most, we’re itching to get back out there for the season and do what we love.
Whether you’re mowing the lawn for an escape or just to check a box off the weekend checklist, there are some simple things to know when it comes to mowing your lawn that make a huge difference in the health of your lawn, so let’s talk about them!
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When can I start mowing?
The short answer is when you can tell when your lawn needs to be mowed…Great answer, we know. The longer answer is a combination of a few scenarios to look for to give you the go-ahead and a couple to tell you to wait.
The first sign that tells us we’re getting close is when the grass begins greening up when the air and soil temperatures rise. In general, the grass will begin to green up when air temperatures get above 40* F but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s go-time to start mowing.
The second sign is noticing growth in your grass throughout your lawn after some time above that 40-degree mark. Most of the time, you’ll notice pockets of uneven growth before the first mow and it becomes uniform growth – This is OK and a good sign the season is about to begin!
The third sign that we’re right around the corner is when nighttime air temperatures (lo) are consistently above the upper-30’s or that 40-degree mark.
When shouldn’t I start mowing?
The short answer is when none of the three scenarios are true. However, there are some other warning signs to look for when mother nature is telling you to wait.
The first, and most obvious, is when there is frost (or a risk of frost) in your area. Never, never, never mow your lawn when there is frost on it. This will absolutely do more damage to your grass than good.
The second is when there are prolonged low temperatures expected in your area. In some scenarios, we may have already got a mow or two in and a drop in temperatures occurs. That’s OK and very normal coming into spring, but something to look for as a sign to not mow during that drop in temperature.
General rule of thumb: If you think it’s too cold (or too soon) to mow your lawn, it likely is too soon to mow your lawn. It’s almost always better to wait to avoid unnecessary damage.
What are some good mowing habits?
Once the season begins and we have a few mows behind us, it is all about maintaining mowing practices throughout the season to position you at the best shot at having a healthy lawn.
Some best mowing practices include:
- Follow the ‘⅓ Rule’ – Avoid mowing off more than one-third of the grass blade in one mow. This is easily one of the most common mowing mistakes out there that can easily be implemented into your maintenance routine. Breaking the ⅓ Rule causes additional stress and risk of disease on your lawn, which will hurt your lawn in the long run.
Source: Oklahoma State University Extension
- Don’t let clippings pile up – Sometimes we’re forced to break the ⅓ Rule. If this is the case, it’s common for grass clippings to chunk up and create piles around your lawn. In this case you have some options as an alternative to mulching your clippings:
- Use the side discharge – Open your side discharge via your attachment to allow grass clippings fly out of the side as you mow
- Bag your clippings – Attach your bag to your mower to allow grass clippings to be collected to then compost.
- Complete a second pass – If those two are not options, the best next option is to complete a second pass throughout your lawn to mulch the leftover clippings into finer clippings.
- Sharpen your mower blades – As much as we all loved jamming out to Jagged Edge, it is best we leave them out of lawn care unless they’re in your headphones! Sharpening your blades is easy and is commonly avoided year after year, causing harm to millions of lawns out there.
- How to sharpen mower blades:
- Regardless of which option you prefer, both are usually easier than you think they are. Blades on rotary mowers can usually be removed with a ratchet set. Be sure to unplug the spark plug prior to exploring and removal.
- After removal, here are some options:
- DIY Options:
- Use a drill attachment
- Use a flap disc
- Always wear proper protection!
- Professional Options:
- Local hardware stores may offer this service
- Local equipment distributor usually offers this service
- Some local big box stores may offer this service
- DIY Options:
Source: protoolreviews.com
What mower is best for me?
Like anything, there are many different options for homeowners to choose from when it comes to mowers. The short answer to this question is the best mower is the one that meets the experience and results you’re seeking for your lawn. Every person and every lawn is different, which is why there are so many options available.
Types of:
- Reel:
- Reel:
- For smaller lawns, usually 2,000 sq. ft. or less.
- Blades spin vertically and use a scissors action to cut the grass blades.
- Usually between 3-7 blades, but can have more than that for some models.
- Most of these will have adjustable heights of cut between .25”-3”, but can vary between models.
- Offer a very clean cut, but require more work because of the manual nature.
- Can range in costs depending on type:
- Manual Reel: Usually <$200 USD
- Popular Brands:
- Scotts
- Fiskars
- Greenworks
- American Lawn Mower Company
- Popular Brands:
- Manual Reel: Usually <$200 USD
- Reel:
- Traditional Reel/Greens Mowers: $900-$5,000+ USD
- Popular brands:
- Toro
- John Deere
- Swardman
- Allett
- California Trimmer
- Popular brands:
- Rotary:
- Popularly used and designed for homeowners with smaller properties up to ½ acre or less.
- Available in Electric or Gas
- Mower blade acts as a fan parallel to the ground surface which sucks the grass blades up to perform the cut.
- Have options for personal pace which helps with consistency and timing of mowing.
- Deck width sizes are usually within 21”-30” and can usually range from $300-$1,500 USD
- Popular Brands:
- Toro
- Honda
- EGO
- Milwaukee
- Ryobi
- Dewalt
- Greenworks
- Green Machine
- Riding:
- Designed for any lawn size, but generally are intended for larger lawns over ½ acre or larger.
- Also known as lawn tractors that serve as a multi-purpose tractor with use of various attachments.
- Usually have larger deck sizes with multiple rotary blades within a deck that sits under-neath the tractor.
- Able to pull attachments with a fair amount of weight behind them to complete with ease.
- Popular Brands:
- John Deere
- Cub Cadet
- Husqvarna
- EGO
- Greenworks
- Zero-Turn:
- Originally built exclusively for commercial use, but are available for residential use for larger lawn sizes.
- The mower blade sits in front of the machine, versus underneath.
- Known for maneuverability and speed.
- Offer a turning radius of zero inches, which is where the name comes from.
- Can be riding or walk behind.
- Popular Brands:
- Toro
- John Deere
- Cub Cadet
- Husqvarna
- EGO
- Greenworks
Plan out your lawn season with us by subscribing to our Free Newsletter. Check out and subscribe to our YouTube Channel and follow us on Instagram.