The First Lawn Cut of Spring Can Make or Break Your Grass

Making that first cut of the year with your mower is crucial to getting your lawn off on the right foot. Mow to the wrong height, with dull blades or in poor soil conditions and you can stunt your lawn, putting it into recovery mode before the lawn mowing season has even gotten started. Prepping your lawn, sharpening mower blades, and setting your mower to the right cutting height are all part of setting up your lawn for success through the summer and into the fall.

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Clear Debris

Winter can leave dead leaves, twigs, and other debris scattered throughout your yard. This debris can suffocate your lawn if you don't remove it. Large sticks, rocks, and errant dog toys can hidden amongst this debris can also damage your mower's blade. Start by raking your lawn to remove all of this debris. Not only will raking help prep it for the first mow of the year, but it also gives you a chance to assess your lawn to see if there is any winter damage that you need to address. 

Sharpen Your Blades

As part of prepping your mower for the new mowing season, you’ll want to sharpen its blades, says Steven Corcoran, CEO of Lawn Love. “With a sharp blade, you get a cleaner cut,” he says. “Not only does this just make your grass look better, but it can also decrease the risk of problems like lawn diseases spreading, since grass is more susceptible when torn.”

Check Soil Conditions

Pay attention to the soil conditions when timing your first mow. Since spring is a wetter season with cooler temperatures, soil can often remain soft and muddy for a long time. Wait to mow until your lawn feels firm and dry, so you don’t damage the grass with your lawn mower. 

Follow the One Third Rule

It’s not the end of the world if you don’t get around to that first mow till later in the spring and the grass has grown long. Just don’t try to bring it down all at once, or you’ll shock the grass. As a rule of thumb, never cut the grass more than 1/3 of its height at any time, Corcoran advises. If your grass is six inches tall, remove 1.5 inches then wait a few days and cut it down to the optimal 3-inch height. “At the start of the season you’re going to want to mow higher,” he says. “As time goes on you can mow it shorter and shorter, so long as you stick to the one-third rule.”

Mow Low

Make your first cut of the year about a half inch lower than you normally would in the summer. For cool season grasses, that means cutting the grass to a height of 2 to 2-1/2 inches. By mowing low, you encourage the grass roots to grow deeper into the soil, thus preparing them to better endure the heat and drought conditions of mid summer. 

Make the first two cuts at 2 to 2-1/2 inches, then slowly raise the mower deck with each mow, eventually getting it back to that 3- to 4-inch range that you'll maintain through the summer. With cooler temperatures and more precipitation in spring, the grass won’t have a problem recovering from these lower cuts. 

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Skip the bagging

Skip the bagger and use your mower’s mulch kit instead. A mulch kit allows you mower's blade to cut clippings multiple times before depositing them in the grass. These finer grass clippings break down quickly, acting as free fertilizer for your lawn. Remember to follow the 1/3 rule to avoid dumping too many clippings on your lawn at once, smothering your grass. 

Mow Often

Now that you’ve made your first mow, time your next mow for about five days later. By mowing twice a week, you encourage tillering, which is when the grass develops new buds at the base of the plant that grow out and thicken your lawn.