Mowing Your Lawn During the Growing Season
During the late spring, summer, and early fall months, you probably spend plenty of time mowing your lawn. But many people make the mistake of mowing their lawns on a rigid schedule rather than understanding the signs that their lawns are or are not ready for mowing. This chapter will solve that problem by giving you the steps you should take when deciding if it is the right time to mow your lawn.
Know How Tall You Want Your Lawn to Be
Before you can decide if it is a good time to cut your grass shorter, you need to have a clear idea of how long you want your lawn to be. The exact length of your grass is largely a matter of personal preference, but most of the time, you’ll want your lawn to be between two and three inches tall. Having this height in mind throughout the year will begin to give you a better idea of when you should mow.
Wait Until Your Lawn is Taller Than You Want it to Be
When you know how tall you want your lawn to be, you should wait until it grows past that height. Once your lawn is about half an inch to one and a half inches above your desired height, you can begin mowing. Letting your grass get taller than you want it to be lets you set your mower to the exact height you wish your lawn to be each time you mow.
Understand How the Weather Affects Mowing
The weather and general climatic conditions will play a major role in deciding when to mow your lawn. Typically, during drought periods and times of extremely high or low temperatures, your grass will grow more slowly than normal. It will also have a harder time recovering from your mowing. As such, reduce your mowing any time the weather slows your grass’s growth.
When to Stop Mowing Your Lawn for the Year
Just as there is a time to start mowing at the beginning of the season, there is also a correct time to stop mowing at the end. You’ll want to stop mowing your grass when it begins to re-enter its dormant phase.
Often, the dormant phase of your lawn grass corresponds to a certain temperature range. This range can change based on the type of grass you grow, but when the weather stays around 40 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit, there’s a good chance your lawn is exiting its growth phase.
During fall and early winter, you should notice that your grass’s growth has slowed or stopped. When this happens, it’s safe to assume that you can store your mower and wait until spring arrives to begin mowing again.