Believe it or not, there is a worst and best time to mow your lawn.
Different people have varying opinions regarding this matter.
Some would even question the relevance of time to the task.
Gardening enthusiasts know that mowing the lawn at the right time will affect its growth significantly.
Though most people will do it when the grass is overgrown, others follow a routine to keep them well-groomed.
Best Time To Mow Your Lawn
Mowing the lawn is an ordinary task that most homeowners try to do regularly to encourage growth and tolerance, especially during the warm season.
Though cutting the grass may sound simple for some people, others believe mowing at the right time helps the overall health of the lawn.
Midmorning
The best time to mow your lawn is anywhere between 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM, allowing the grass to dry up a little since the sun has been out for several hours.
Most of the morning moisture should have evaporated during this time, making it easier to and safer to mow the lawn.
Also, the sun’s heat still feels good for your skin and the lawn mower during this window time.
Most gardening enthusiasts agree that midmorning is the best time to cut the grass so it can dry and heal during the day.
The midmorning heat prevents the grass from burning and getting stressed.
After 10:00 AM, the temperature will start rising, which is not suitable for the lawn.
If your lawn faces the north, it may take some time for the morning dew to evaporate.
If this happens, then you can cut the grass in the late afternoon instead.
Late Afternoon
Late afternoon is also a suitable time for mowing your lawn, usually between 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM, making it less stressful.
Though the sun is still out, the hottest and intense heat had passed, making it comfortable for both you and the machine.
Mowing the lawn at this hour provides enough time for the grass to recover from the cuttings and prevent some fungal diseases from affecting them.
Worst Time To Mow Your Lawn
Knowing the best time for cutting the lawn is as vital as understanding when not to do it to avoid stress and damage to the grass.
Early Morning
If you like doing things early in the morning, you should remove lawn mowing from the list.
Cutting grass is one of the worst things you can do before 8:00 AM.
The grass is still wet from the dew, and any mowing attempt will only clog your cutting tool.
Likewise, the mower’s tire will leave tracks on the damp soil.
Pros don’t recommend cutting wet grass due to safety issues, especially with electric lawn mower models.
Also, there’s a risk of ripping turf chunks, making it prone to diseases.
Lastly, wet grass always sticks to the device, making it harder to clean after use.
Midday
Midday is the hottest part of the day and may not be ideal for mowing your lawn, though still acceptable if you only cut the top third of the grass.
The heat intensity between 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM makes it hard for you to work comfortably.
What’s more, the combined heat from the sun and the machine may cause stress on the grass.
Also, it is the time of day where the grass tries to produce food and hold moisture.
Early Evening
Your lawn needs enough time to recover before it gets dark; thus, this time is not ideal for mowing.
Also, the grass is more prone to fungus and other diseases during the 6:00 to 8:00 PM window.
Late Evening
Like the early morning scenario, deciding to mow your lawn between 7:00 PM and 9:00 PM will only expose the cut grass to fungal infections.
Common Lawn Care Mistakes
Now that we know how the different times affect the grass when cut, we must also pay attention to the cutting tool.
Never mow your loan using dull blades since they cannot make a clean cut and only tear the grass blades.
Torn grass blades and ripped lawns make the lawn susceptible to fungal infections and other turf diseases.
The current weather also plays a significant role in deciding when to mow the lawn.
If it changes constantly, you have to adapt your mowing session according to the situation.
When To Mow the Lawn Based on the Season
Apart from choosing the right time of day to mow your lawn, it would help if you also considered the current season and weather.
Spring
You can do the first grass cutting session for spring around the middle of March.
After the initial mowing, do weekly lawn mowing maintenance to keep it healthy.
Most people will keep the same grass height throughout spring.
However, cutting it too short will make it weak, giving way to growing weeds and moss.
Summer
During summertime, you have to double your mowing frequency to at least twice a week on average and once a week when there is drought.
Ensure that the mower blades are raised slightly higher when the weather is hot because longer grass stalks can handle drought better.
Their colors are also more vibrant, with stronger grass stalks less likely to suffer from wear and tear.
Autumn
During the autumn season, the temperature is colder, and the days are shorter, which means that you need fewer mowing sessions.
Similar to springtime, you should mow your lawn once a week during the autumn season.
That said, remember to increase the height of the blades as autumn comes to its end and winter approaches.
Winter
Your lawn rarely requires mowing during the winter season except when the weather is warm and the grass is still growing.
If this happens, your lawn may require occasional mowing with the blades set up in a high-cut setting.
However, refrain from mowing your lawn if the ground is frozen or too soft.
Never cut wet or frosty grass as this will only damage it completely.
Effectively Mowing Your Lawn
Mowing is the most crucial lawn maintenance you can do to keep it lush and green at all times.
We have talked about the best and worst times to mow your lawn.
Keep in mind that there are also other factors that you need to consider besides the time of day.
Sometimes, you need to use your common sense when deciding whether you need to mow the lawn or not.