2 min read
It won’t be long before freshly cut grass joins the potpourri of outdoor scents. But for homeowners like me who live in a four-season climate, the big question every spring is: when is it time to fire up the lawn mower for the first cut of the season?
The answer to that question varies by region, according to Good Housekeeping’s Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab experts and lawn professionals nationwide. “The key is to wait until the lawn has clearly ‘woken up’ from winter dormancy, so you’re not stressing the turf too early,” says Brian Feldman, senior director of technical operations at TruGreen, the lawn care company.
If you want to go by the book, measuring your soil’s temperature with a soil thermometer is the surest way to know if the lawn is waking up. Cool-season grasses like fescue and Kentucky bluegrass wait for consistent temperatures above 50°F to start growing again, while warm-season grasses like Bermuda and zoysia don’t wake up until soil temperatures are closer to 70°F.
Not into taking your soil’s temperature? It’s okay to eyeball it, too. First, look for signs of active growth before you even think about pulling out the mower. “If you start mowing too soon, you risk stressing the turf too early,” explains Feldman. That will make your lawn more susceptible to pests, disease, and drought throughout the growing season.
Once you see active growth throughout the yard, wait until the grass reaches about 4 inches before cutting it for the first time. Don’t wait too much longer, though, since that will cause the lawn to become matted, preventing air and nutrients from reaching the root system.
Remember the 1/3rd rule, whereby you never take off more than 1/3rd of the height of the grass. This practice is especially important early in the growing season, since longer grass blades can absorb more sunlight and transfer more energy to the roots.
Our experts also stress the importance of starting the season with a sharp edge on your lawn mower blade. A dull blade will result in ragged cuts across each blade, which look messy and also expose the grass to disease and pests.
Having written thousands of product reviews and how-to articles on all aspects of home ownership, from routine maintenance to major renovations, Dan (he/him) brings more than 20 years of industry experience to his role as the director of the Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute. A one-time roofer and a serial remodeler, Dan can often be found keeping house at his restored Brooklyn brownstone, where he lives with his wife and kids.
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