Now that spring is here, homeowners are beginning to work on their lawns and gardens. One of the most common questions people have is when they should begin to cut their grass in the spring.
There is no exact date when you should begin to cut your lawn again. Every lawn is unique, and you need to assess the height of your grass and the condition of your lawn so you can make an educated decision.
Grass can grow throughout the year, including in the winter. If there is a long period of time with sub-zero temperatures, the grass may not grow as much as it would in warmer weather. When the temperature is consistently warmer, the grass will begin to grow faster.
You should not cut your lawn in the winter or early spring if the ground is frozen or saturated. If it is dry and the weather is relatively warm, you can cut the grass.
No matter how long your grass is, you should never cut off more than a third of its length at any one time. If you cut off too much length at once, that can shock the lawn. Shocked grass will enter a period of convalescence and will become insular as it recovers from the effects of an extreme amount of cutting.
While it is undergoing that process, the lawn can become overrun with moss, weeds, and other species of grass. This can lead to competition, and the other types of vegetation can replace the grass species you would like to grow. Then you may need to over seed or re-turf your lawn to get it back to the condition it was in before.
If you have neglected the lawn and the grass is very high, you may need to cut it multiple times, a little at a time, until you get it down to the height you want. The best way to have a healthy lawn this spring is to cut it regularly, a little at a time. This will keep the grass at a healthy and manageable length so your lawn will stay green and vibrant throughout the spring and summer months.
