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If you have a lawn behind or in front of your house, you want it to look neat and tidy at all times. Lawn mowing is of course the most important part of maintenance. But here the question arises as to when is the right time to mow the lawn without damaging it. Because if you mow at the wrong time, it is quite possible that the lawn cannot cope and unsightly brown spots can form. The following article therefore deals with the best time to mow the lawn.
Mowing the lawn: time
When thinking about the ideal time when the lawn should be mowed, then it is necessary to think between the first and the last time of the year, as well as about the individual mowing processes over the growing year. The weather, time of day and season should not be ignored in order to find the ideal date for cutting the lawn.
First cut of the year
When the first warm days come in spring and frost and snow no longer stand a chance, lawn growth begins very quickly, because growth has stopped here, as with any plant, over the winter months. The first cut of the year must not be set too low, and a time after the last frost should also be chosen. Immediately after winter, a cutting height of three to five centimeters is ideal. The lower value applies to purely ornamental lawns, while a playing field should be left a little longer. The exact date for this first cut of the year depends on the following factors:
- length of winter
- average winter temperature
- condition of the lawn
- when did the first warm temperatures set in
- as soon as the lawn starts to grow
- with a stem height of about six to seven centimeters
- do not cut immediately after the first fertilization
- wait about a week
notice: When the first spring mowing must be done varies from year to year and cannot be tied to a specific date. The decisive factors are always the weather, when to fertilize and how fast the lawn grows.
Mow after reseeding
When the lawn is no longer attractive in spring and many bare spots can be seen, it is usually reseeded. Sowing should ideally take place after the first mowing. The lawn should then remain unmown until the new blades have reached a length of about ten to twelve centimetres, and only then should it be mowed again. Even after a new lawn has been laid, this height should only be reached before it is mowed for the first time. After that, regular mowing can take place as usual.
weather
The right weather is important for choosing the right time for mowing the lawn. The lawn should not be too wet due to rain or too dry due to strong sunlight. Therefore, the right time for mowing the lawn should be chosen as follows:
- on a dry day
- not in the hot sun
- then the soil dries out faster
- once a week in summer
- when blades of grass are between seven and ten centimeters high
notice: If the lawn is very wet due to prolonged rain, it may happen that the individual blades are not evenly cut off when mowing. The entire lawn becomes uneven and may need to be mowed again. Therefore, a later date for mowing the lawn should be chosen when the lawn is completely dry again.
time of day
mow in the morning
It is ideal to mow the lawn in the morning hours. Then it is still quite cool from the night and on hot summer days work is easier in the early morning. In addition, many neighbors are already at work and the loud lawn mower will not disturb you. Of course, the aspects of weather and lawn mowing must also be taken into account here.
notice: If you mow your lawn over the summer months, then how often you have to mow also depends on the length of the individual blades. A cutting length of five centimeters is ideal, so the individual stalks cannot dry out or burn so quickly. However, a lawn often does not grow as quickly in summer due to a lack of water and you therefore do not have to mow it every week.
cut at noon
If you want to mow the lawn at midday, then this is not a good decision, regardless of the prevailing weather. Because in most municipalities and cities, the rest period still applies over lunchtime. This usually starts between 12:00 or 1:00 p.m. and ends at 3:00 p.m. Even if work is allowed to continue on a construction site over lunchtime, this rest period must be observed by private individuals. You should therefore refrain from mowing the lawn in the middle of the day, unless there is a manual lawn mower available that doesn't make any noise and the weather is ideal for cutting.
notice: Make sure that you do not mow your lawn on a Sunday or public holiday, because such noisy work is not allowed on these days.
mow in the evening
Even evenings are often not a good time to cut the lawn. Because then many neighbors would like to enjoy their evenings in the garden and may feel disturbed by the noise. Cutting the lawn in the evening has no effect on the lawn itself, as long as you observe the above-mentioned aspects under "Weather".
Last cut of the year
You should mow one last time before winter, when the lawn goes into hibernation and is struggling with frost and snow. The first night frosts can occur as early as October, so you should prepare the lawn for winter before then. That means the following:
- last cut in mid-October
- Now cut the stems shorter
- about half an inch shorter
- between 2.5 to 4.4 centimeters in length
notice: If the individual stalks remain too long during the last cut in autumn, the first snow can press them down. This can promote disease or fungus. For this reason, you should also remove the cuttings and all leaves from the lawn before winter.