Best Time to Mow Lawn – A Complete Guide

In summer, the grass near your cottage requires special care. In addition to following tips from Botan, you should know the best time to mow the lawn because the green color of plants and their health depend on it. 

Morning and evening are best for trimming the grass. In this guide, you’ll find out more about correct lawn mowing, how to adjust care during summer heat, and what to avoid. 

What Is the Best Time to Mow the Lawn?

According to Iowa State University data, the best time to cut grass is in the morning or evening after the lawn is already dry from the dew and temperatures are not so high. It may be between 6 a.m. and 8 am. or between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. This approach ensures a clean and even cut without causing heat stress to the plants.

If you cut the lawn when it is wet, the grass clippings stick to the blades and clog the grass catcher, causing the engine to work harder. Mowing the lawn at midday, in turn, can cause a lot of stress for the greenery, which manifests as yellowing or drying leaves. 

So, pick up the lawn mower in the morning after drying out the plants from dew, or wait until the heat begins to drop in the afternoon. 

Mowing Time Comparison: Pros and Cons by Hour 

To better understand the answer to the question “When is the best time to cut grass?”, explore the pros and cons of trimming the lawn during different times of day. 

So, answering the question “What is the best time to mow the lawn?”, we can say that both morning and evening are suitable for Korean lawngrass or other species, but the exact timing should be adjusted depending on the weather conditions.

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Best Time of Day to Mow Lawn in Hot Weather 

During hot summer days, lawn growth becomes harder because the dry weather with extremely high temperatures is stressful for any species from the ornamental plants list or other sources. The grass loses moisture quicker than its roots absorb it. The soil also becomes dry, hindering root function and slowing plant growth. 

So, the lawn requires adjusting the mowing time during heat. Instead of trimming the Bermudagrass or other warm-season species in the middle of the morning or toward evening, do it in the early morning after the dew or later in the evening. This is the best time of day to mow the lawn in hot weather to save the health of the grass. 

4 Tips for Mowing Your Lawn the Right Way 

In addition to using tools to identify grasses online and receive care tips, as well as knowing the good time to mow the lawn, it’s significant to keep in mind the technique of cutting the grass, as the plant's health and visual appearance depend on it. 

1. Raise the Mowing Height 

If the grass is tall, its root system is more extensive and embedded in the soil. This means that it can absorb more water and useful nutrients at greater depth. In addition, the taller grass creates a shadow that protects the soil from moisture evaporation, as well as ensures a reduction in the number of weeds and diseases. 

Iowa State University shares information that the optimal mowing height during the summer days is from 3 to 3.5 inches.

2. Follow the One-Third Rule

This rule means not to cut more than one-third of the grass height at once. Let your lawn grow to a height of 4.5 inches. Only then mow it. Lawns mowed to this height look smoother and neater. 

If you make the lawn too short, it can weaken the grass, make it prone to yellowing when exposed to extremely high temperatures, and be overrun by weeds. 

3. Keep Mower Blades Sharp

It’s significant for each homeowner to keep mower blades sharp. In this case, they ensure a neat cut and uniform appearance of the lawn. Dull blades tear grass tips, which in turn leads to stress, water loss, susceptibility to diseases, and lawn discoloration.

4. Time Watering Around Mowing

As we described above, moving a wet lawn is not recommended. However, you can slightly water the grass in summer if it is too dry and wait a little while until the surface dries before mowing. Otherwise, water after mowing or postpone the lawn trimming until another day. 

What to Avoid When Mowing  

To summarize everything described above, we’ve put together a list of things to avoid:

• Mowing wet grass. It can lead to sticking cut leaves to blades, clogging the grass catcher, and creating ruts in the ground. 
• Mowing in midday during hot summer weather. It adds additional stress to the lawn, causing it to yellow and dry. 
• Cutting more than one-third. This causes stress for the plants, which is evident in grass tips drying out and their overall condition deteriorating. 
• Using dull blades. Instead of a clean, neat cut, you end up with torn stress. 

Knowing this list will help you avoid common mistakes that lead to weakening of the lawn and deterioration in its overall appearance.