Mowing your lawn seems like a simple enough task. When you notice the grass starting to grow with the end of winter, you should break out the mower, right? In reality, it’s a bit more complicated than that, particularly if one of your goals is to preserve the health of your lawn. We all want a lush, green yard that is free of weeds and relatively simple to maintain, but in order to achieve that goal, we must first begin with some best practices regarding when and how we mow.
The Dangers Of Mowing Your Yard Too Early
Before we dive into when you should first begin to mow your lawn, let’s look at why timing is so important. There are a couple of very specific reasons why the first mow of the year and when it occurs is vital in setting up your yard for health and vitality.
- Mowing Too Early – If you mow your lawn too early, you run the risk of causing freeze damage to your grass’ roots. This, in turn, hurts the microbiome of the soil and increases the likelihood that weeds will propagate – a headache no one wants.
- Mowing Too Late – If you wait too long to mow your lawn, you could stress the grass, causing it to dry out and resulting in permanent damage. Furthermore, you run the risk of problems such as unwanted wear and tear on your mower, increased pest activity, and a less-than-pleasing aesthetic. Not to mention that it could become overgrown, and you could be charged a premium for the first cut.
Identifying The Best Time To Mow Your Lawn
With all this in mind, when is the perfect time to mow your lawn? While there isn’t a specific date or even month that can be universally applied to all lawns, factors such as the type of grass and the climate in which it grows are key determinants. In North Texas, the most common grass types are Bermuda, St. Augustine, and Zoysia. These are each warm-season grasses, meaning that they will begin to grow when the temperature of the soil reaches above 65º Fahrenheit. We find that this period occurs at the end of February or the beginning of March, here in North Texas.
The First Mow
Before the first mow, homeowners can help their lawn by removing dead leaves. Then, for the first mow, use a bagged mower on a setting just low enough to capture the smaller leaves without cutting the grass too short. By doing so, you will remove unnecessary insulation from the soil, allowing it to heat up faster and your grass to establish deeper roots prior to its growing season.
Grass Cutting Services In North Texas
While you can certainly follow these tips on your own, you may also want to consider using a professional service to best care for the health of your lawn. At Chorbie, our skilled team can pinpoint the best times to cut your grass, as well as implement all the best practices needed to preserve your lawn’s vitality and prevent future problems.
