As a sensitive target, all new grass should be treated in a delicate way instead of roughly. While cutting its height, you should still allow its roots to grow deeper into the ambient soil and ensure a healthy establishment process.
But how to do things rightly? In this short article, let us tell you when to cut new grass and how to do this properly. Just check it out!
When To Cut New Grass Grow From Seed?
As the seedling starts growing, it has not completed the establishment of its root system in the soil and also has no substantial leaf blade that can endure the cutting and compaction from a lawnmower.
Hence, after lawn seeding, you had better wait for your grass to grow for a time and gain strength before the time to mow it comes.
If you cut the grass too early, the wheels and blades of your lawnmower are just pulling your grass sprouts from the soil instead of mowing them.
Besides, a lawnmower will also compact the soil when it runs on the ground surface, which makes it challenging for poor roots to spread underground.
If you perform plugs, sods, or sprig installations in the spring, wait around six weeks to eight weeks before cutting them. Otherwise, you can check whether the grass starts rooting firmly or not simply by tugging its corner edge.
Generally, before you push your lawnmower on your new turf, you should wait until the grass height reaches around 3 to 4 inches and covers the ground in high density.
In most cases, it would take approximately one to two months after your seeds sprout. This duration is long enough for the turf to adhere to the soil firmly so that it can withstand the force of a trimmer.
One more thing, lock your sprinkler system or hose reel to enable your lawn to dry out for two days before you mow it for the first time. For reference, you can use the following table to select the suitable time to cut your specific type of grass.
| Types of grass | Recommended mowing height (measured in inches) | Mow when the grass reaches this height (measured in inches) |
| Kentucky Bluegrass | 2 – 2.5 | 3 – 4 |
| Tall Fescue | 2 – 3 | 3 – 5 |
| Fine Fescue | 2 – 2.5 | 3 – 4 |
| Perennial Ryegrass | 1.5 – 2.5 | 2 – 4 |
| Bermuda grass | 1 – 1.5 | 1.5 – 2 |
| Zoysia | 1 – 1.5 | 1.5 – 2 |
| St. Augustine | 2.5 – 3 | 4 – 4.5 |
| Centipede | 1.5 – 2 | 2 – 3 |
The Proper Cutting Techniques
After choosing the most suitable lawn mowing time, you must also use proper mowing techniques to mow your new grass, or else your lawn will still be spoiled. Bear in mind the following lawn mowing tips:
- Your trimmer must have sharp mowers blades to cut across dry grass unless you want to tear or rip the turf. Or else, turn on your gardening hose to make the grass wet.
- In your first time of grass clippings, don’t take off the full length of the blade in a single trimming session.
- You must maintain a 2 or 3-inch height for your grass. If your grass loses more than one-third of its length after the first mowing pass, new roots are prone to get a lawn disease.
- If you require organic soil care/ lawn care/ shrub care and do not want to use chemicals for pest control and weed control, this is very important.
- Long grass blades can discourage weed growth and focus all energy of the grass on developing the roots deeper, stronger, and more drought-resistant.
- Set the lowest throttle to mow the plugs to avoid uprooting them.
- Cutting in different directions would help your grass remain upright and not compact the blade into the soil.
- Don’t perform the second mowing session until 3 to 5 days after the first one. This time, again, you ought not to remove over one-third of the grass length.
- Avoid using a heavy-duty lawn mower and turning your lawnmower direction too quickly so that the wheels will not pinch your grasses and pull them from the ground.
- Once your grass is fully established, you can mow it normally to promote lateral spreading.
When To Cut New Grass On An Established Turf?
Sometimes, even when you are quite sure that you have filled your seeded lawns, due to some reasons, you still find many bald spots on your turf.
And when there are bare patches available on your established turf, you may be interested in planting grass there. At this time, the fully grown is ready to mow, but you have to avoid the newly seeded grass.
After the new seeds sprout and develop, use the same guide above to unify the status of your whole turf. Then, you can apply your conventional cutting grass pattern comfortably all over your entire lawn.
Gradually, all of your old and new grass will blend together to form a beautiful and healthy lawn. Nevertheless, if you push your lawnmower over new grass too soon, you will need to restart the entire process above again.
Which Is Your Right Lawnmower?
After all, selecting the right lawn mower for your lawn is essential. Even if you have taken all the lawn care tips above correctly, you cannot have a fantastic sod without a proper trimmer. Hence, let’s see which of the following lawn mower is suitable for your turf:
- Manual reel mower – Ideal for small and flat lawns.
- Electric mower – Good for small yards.
- Gas-powered push mower – Appropriate for medium-sized lawns.
- Riding mower or garden tractor – These are must-have tools for wide and sloped turfs.
Conclusion
So we have provided you with all the necessary knowledge you should know when it comes to mowing new grass.
Apart from considering when to cut new grass, you should also take the type of lawnmower, the cutting process, the renovation consideration, and other factors into account to ensure the best result. Otherwise, all of your efforts will be pointless.
Thanks for reading!
Source: Gardening101