The First Pass Over New Grass

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Carol A. Crotta

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Photo Credit: Task Force

Reel mowers are the preferred type to use on newly planted turf. (If you have to use a power rotary mower, make sure the blades are very sharp.)

Think of mowing your new lawn like pruning: It makes your grass healthier by allowing light down to the root crown, encouraging it to produce new blades to spread out and fill in, creating that uniform, dense carpet we all know and love. But if you mow a new lawn too soon, you risk pulling out young seedlings that have yet to establish a strong foothold in the lawn bed or pulling up newly laid sod, plugs or sprigs.

No matter how you’ve planted your new lawn, wait until the grass blades have grown 4-5 inches tall before mowing. Even sod shouldn’t be touched for 10-14 days after installation and should show signs of vigorous growth before being clipped.

When the time has come to mow, turn to your mower. The type you use on new grass makes a big difference. For first-time mowing on new turf, the best choice is a reel mower (preferably hand-powered). A hand-powered reel mower features curved blades that spin around a fixed-bed knife, cutting the lawn with a scissorlike snipping action to leave a clean cut across the top of the grass blades. A rotary mower, on the other hand, has a rotating blade that sits parallel to the lawn surface and whips across it. Dull blades tear grass more than cut it, so if you have to use a rotary power mower on a new lawn, be sure to sharpen its blade before you start.

Next, set your mower’s height adjustment to its maximum, and only go over a small area of grass the first time around. You just want to tidy up the lawn’s appearance and encourage the turf to spread, not strip away the seedlings’ capacity to photosynthesize. And when you make that initial pass over your lawn, remember to avoid any sharp turns or abrupt starts and stops, which can tear up the new turf.

Facts

Reel mowers make clean cuts and help prevent fungal diseases from becoming established.

Tips

When you mow, alter your route each time to keep the grass from developing a wear pattern, and never mow a wet lawn. Try to make sweeping (not abrupt) turns. And leave well-scattered grass clippings behind to decompose naturally – this provides much of your lawn’s basic nitrogen requirements and should reduce the need for fertilizer.

Faqs

Q: I prefer my grass to look short and clean, like a putting green. Is this healthy for my lawn?
A: It’s not the best. Those who love close-clipped lawns will shrink in horror to learn that grasses should be allowed to grow much taller than is commonly seen before mowing. A fescue lawn, for instance, should actually be 3-4 inches high. Even some lawn mowers don’t have height adjustments to accommodate cuts this tall. If you do cut your lawn short, make sure you keep it well hydrated and cared for to keep it as healthy as possible.

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