| UC IPM Home <! /notices/notice.cgi was activated. > | | Home & Garden > Lawn Guide > New Lawns > Mowing The UC Guide to Healthy Lawns | Index to contents | Acknowledgments | Related UC publications | References | Mowing new lawns | New lawns need time for their roots to become established before they can be mowed for the first time. For seeded lawns, it may take up to 2 months before they are ready to be mowed. Sod may be ready to be mowed within 2 to 3 weeks of planting. Three to six weeks are required for sprigs, stolons, and plugs to become established. For seeded lawns, wait for all of the seeds to germinate before mowing. For sod, sprigs, stolons, and plugs, make sure the roots are firmly planted in the soil before mowing to avoid tearing out new turf. How to mow your new lawn - Be sure that the lawn is fairly dry before mowing so that you do not pull out any of your new lawn.
- As a general rule, you should let your lawn grow to about one-and-a-half times the recommended height before cutting so that you are cutting off no more than one-third of the height of your lawn at a time.
- Set your mower blade to the recommended cutting height for your turf species.
- For the first mow, you can let the lawn grow to the high end of the recommended range or even a little higher before cutting to give it a little more time to become established, but be sure to still only cut off one-third of the blade.
- Mow again a few days later to cut to the recommended height.
- Mow regularly to keep your lawn healthy and avoid scalping damage.
Mowing established lawns | Roll your mouse over the the illustration to see the difference between mowing too short and mowing at the correct height.
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FAQs
Begin to mow the new turf when it reaches a height one-third higher than the normal mowing height (e.g., if a 3-inch height is desired, mow when the turf reaches 4 inches). Typically, under optimum growing conditions, this is four to six weeks after seeding.
How long should you wait to mow a new lawn? ›
For seeded lawns, it may take up to 2 months before they are ready to be mowed. Sod may be ready to be mowed within 2 to 3 weeks of planting. Three to six weeks are required for sprigs, stolons, and plugs to become established. For seeded lawns, wait for all of the seeds to germinate before mowing.
How often should you cut a newly laid lawn? ›
For the best result mow at least twice weekly during the late spring, once a week during summer (if dry) and early autumn and approximately every ten days, mid to late autumn.
Should you push mow new grass? ›
Mowing new grass helps it grow by prompting the grass to spread and come in thick. It also prompts the roots to grow stronger and deeper. You should wait until the new seed has grown and rooted before mowing, usually about 8 weeks.
Does cutting new grass help it grow? ›
When you prevent the grass from growing vertically (skywards), it converts that energy into growing horizontally (along the ground). The end result is thicker grass. This is why mowing new grass frequently helps it to grow from patchy little tufts to even coverage in a shorter space of time.
How long should you wait to cut grass for the first time? ›
It's best to wait until the grass has grown over three inches in length until mowing for the first time to allow it time to build up strength.
What happens if you cut grass too soon? ›
Early Mowing Can Cause Soil Compaction
Compacted soil also puts stress on your grass. Any plant (or grass) without proper access to nutrients, water, and air will eventually lose color, wither and die.
What to do after laying a new lawn? ›
It is not advisable to roll after laying as this will squash air out of the soil and will destroy the crumb structure. Nature will quickly press the turf down with the first shower of rain. Newly laid turf must be well watered, and then kept damp for 2-4 weeks until the lawn is fully established.
Why you shouldn't mow your lawn every week? ›
Mowing every two weeks — instead of weekly — and not dousing grass with chemical herbicides and fertilizers, helps the environment and supports the health of bees, which are among the world's most important pollinators.
Is it better to leave cut grass on the lawn or pick it up? ›
As a general rule, grass clippings of an inch or less in length can be left on your lawn where they will filter down to the soil surface and decompose quickly. Remove longer clippings because they can shade or smother grass beneath causing lawn damage. Don't throw out bagged grass clippings as yard waste.
Unfortunately, your grass will eventually go to seed and the long blades won't just be tough on your mower; they'll also be tough on the entirety of your yard. Letting your lawn go to seed won't be the same as planting new grass seed that creates a brand new lush lawn.
What should grass seed look like after 2 weeks? ›
If the seed's sprout is pushing up through the soil, it has successfully germinated. If there are no sprouts after two weeks, check the seeds. If the seeds still look the same as when they were initially planted or are covered in mold or a fuzzy texture, something has gone wrong, and they might not germinate properly.
How long does it take new grass to settle? ›
Whether you're repairing bare spots, overseeding an existing lawn or starting from scratch, you can generally expect grass seedlings to emerge within seven to 21 days when grown under proper conditions. It may take another three to four weeks of growth before grass is long enough to mow.
Does putting grass clippings on bare spots help grass grow? ›
Grass clippings contain nutrients and can help enrich the soil of bare spots to prepare for new grass to grow. It also aids in moisture retention. Only add a thin layer so as not to trap any airflow.
When to mow a newly seeded lawn? ›
For a seeded lawn, it's best to wait 6-9 months…. even if the grass does look lovely and lush, the roots just won't be ready.
When not to cut grass? ›
Never mow wet or frosty grass
This can damage your turf and compact the soil. Wait until later in the day when the lawn has dried out or defrosted, or postpone mowing to another day.
How long to stay off grass after seeding? ›
Once you're done seeding grass, stay off the area for about two weeks so the grass can grow properly.
When should you first mow the lawn? ›
Depending on weather and temperatures at the particular time, the last week in February or the first week in March is a great time to start. Aim to make the first mow just before the weather starts to warm up, keeping the mower blades high just take the tops off of the grass.
When to stop watering new grass seed? ›
Do not allow the top ½ inch of the soil to become dry until the grass is 1 inch tall. Once the grass is 1 inch tall, water the grass every other day until grass is established (approximately three weeks). Once the grass is established, revert to watering 1-2 times a week for a total of approximately 1 inch of water.
