Lawn Mowing: Timing, Rules, Mowing Height, Tools

Mowing is a procedure performed to improve the health of a green lawn and maintain the aesthetic appeal of a garden plot. To achieve the desired effect, it's important to adhere to a gardening schedule. When creating a schedule, it's important to consider the climate and the varietal characteristics of the grass. In any case, it requires time and effort. In addition to mowing, mandatory maintenance includes regular watering and timely fertilization.

Why do you need to mow your lawn?

The condition of your lawn depends on how this procedure is performed. Regular lawn mowing provides the following benefits:

absence of weeds;
uniform grass growth;
emergence of new shoots;
forming a reliable foundation;
normal planting density.

Before mowing, you need to determine the level of grass cover.

By cutting too much, a gardener risks losing the entire plant. This is because the above-ground portion of the plant provides nutrition to the root system. If there is insufficient green mass, the grass will dry out after cutting.

The first sign of a problem will be the appearance of characteristic spots.

If the mowing depth is too high, the soil will become too dense, which can lead to nutrient deficiencies in the soil.

No more than 1.5 cm should be removed at a time.

Particular attention should be paid to the frequency of this procedure. If you have planted meadow crops in your garden, the lawn will need to be mowed at least twice a month. Otherwise, the greenery will have time to grow too large and end its life cycle.

Regular mowing is beneficial for a green lawn. The resulting turf prevents weed growth and moisture evaporation. A regularly mown lawn is more resilient to mechanical stress and sudden temperature changes than one left neglected.

Tools used for mowing the lawn

To save time, gardeners use specialized equipment, such as lawn mowers. They vary in functionality, cost, engine type, and power.

Gardening equipment in this category comes in manual (mechanical), electric, gasoline, and battery-powered varieties. These tools are equipped with systems for collecting grass clippings, aerating, and loosening the soil. This type of equipment is most often purchased for managing large areas.

Mechanical lawn mowers are characterized by their lack of a drive and the use of fuel. Electric mowers are compact and easy to operate. Gasoline-powered models are independent of standard power sources. The disadvantages of this equipment include noise and the need for fuel.

A trimmer is a versatile tool suitable for maintaining problem areas. It's a useful tool for gardeners who want to add variety to their landscape with flowerbeds, paths, and other elements. Its distinctive features include its affordability, compact size, and ease of use.

Professional equipment is often used for lawn care. This category includes:

Mowing machines. These can be gas-powered or battery-powered. The former are suitable for trimming tall grass in large areas, while the latter are best used in smaller spaces. The latter is due to the fact that these devices require regular recharging.
Riders and lawn tractors. They feature a steering system, front-mounted cutting elements, and useful features such as a storage rack for small items.

Read the article to learn about choosing lawn mowers.Lawn mower ratings: choosing the best.

If a gardener has a relatively small plot, they can make do with specialized scissors. Using a variety of attachments, you can trim the lawn and shape shrubs and trees.

No special knowledge or skills are required. When selecting equipment, consider personal preferences, budget, topography, size, and shape of your plot.

Lawn Mowing Rules

To ensure that pruning produces the desired results, the gardener should follow some fairly simple rules:

Mowing should be done with well-sharpened tools.
Before processing, the grass must be “combed”, that is, run over the lawn surface with a fan rake.
There must be no damage to the equipment.
The procedure is not recommended to be performed in damp weather.
The grass catcher must be emptied regularly from collected material.
The lawn should be mowed starting from the edge.

Timing and height of haircut

Lawn grass grows actively throughout the growing season, which lasts from April to October.

The first lawn mowing usually occurs at the end of May.

The action plan is drawn up based on the recommendations of specialists.

Particular attention should be paid to such a factor as the height of the grass cover.

You should only start mowing if the grass has grown at least 1.5 cm since the last mowing.

Rolled lawn is mowed 7-10 days after laying.

The soil should be moistened before mowing. Mowing on dry soil can damage the plant's root system.

An overgrown lawn is cleared of excess grass in two stages.

In the first stage, the ends are shortened, and in the second, the grass is mowed to the desired level. This level is determined based on the lawn type.

Parterre and sports lawns are mown at a height of 3-4 cm, while in garden and park areas the grass height should be from 4 to 7 cm.

The quality of the first mowing determines the uniformity and density of the grass cover. The latter depends on the condition of the above-ground part of the plant. If it is deformed during mowing, the formation of a green lawn can be significantly delayed.

The first mowing should be done only after the grass reaches 10 cm in height. The weather on the day of mowing should be dry and moderately warm. Only the tops of the grass are removed. This ensures uniform growth of the green mass. The cut mass must be removed. Watering should be done in the morning or evening.

When cold weather sets in, the lawn should be regularly cleared of fallen leaves.

The lawn is mowed for the last time in late autumn. The lawn is treated using the standard procedure. The lower the temperature, the higher the cutting depth. The cutting depth should vary between 4-5 cm.

It is not recommended to touch the area on frosty days. Walking on wet grass is also prohibited. Otherwise, the lawn surface will take too long to recover.

During periods of heavy rainfall, green areas need to be mowed more frequently than in dry weather. This is due to the more vigorous growth of greenery.

The influence of the Moon on lawn care and timing according to the Lunar calendar

When caring for your lawn, don't neglect the moon's position. However, it's important to consider the lawn's user's specific needs.

Task	Position of the Moon
Thick lawn	Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces (waning and waxing)*
Trimming, poor growth	Gemini, Libra, Aquarius (waning, best phase 4)
Mowing, weed control	Aries, Gemini, Leo, Virgo, Sagittarius, Aquarius

*When mowing during the waning moon, hay can be left on the lawn; during the waxing moon, it must be removed or raked towards trees or open areas, otherwise it will damage the lawn.

Note: The best time to mow the lawn if weed removal is necessary: Waning Moon in Leo.

Days according to the zodiac signs in 2024:

May

♒ Aquarius - 1-2 (until 21:52), 28-30 (until 03:32).
♓ Pisces - 2 (from 9:52 pm) - 4 (until 11:40 pm), 30 (from 3:32 am) - 31.
♈ Aries - 4 (from 23h40m)-6.
♉ Taurus - 7-8.
♊ Gemini — 9-11 (until 06:12).
♋ Cancer - 11 (from 06:12 pm)-13 (until 13:35 pm).
♌ Leo — 13 (from 13:35)-15.
♍ Virgo - 16-18 (until 13:22).
♎ Libra — 18 (from 13:00 to 22:00)-20.
♏ Scorpio — 21-23 (up to 11:23).
♐ Sagittarius — 23 (from 11:23 a.m.) - 25 (until 6:36 p.m.).
♑ Capricorn — 25 (from 18:36)-27.

June

♈ Aries — 1 (from 6:27 a.m.)-3 (until 8:54 a.m.), 28 (from 11:51 a.m.)-30 (until 3:01 p.m.).
♉ Taurus — 3 (from 08:54)-5 (until 11:36), 30 (from 15:01).
♊ Gemini — 5 (from 11:36 a.m.) - 7 (until 3:40 p.m.).
♋ Cancer - 7 (from 15:40)-9 (until 22:27).
♌ Leo — 9 (from 10:27 pm) - 12 (until 8:39 am).
♍ Virgo - 12 (from 08:39 a.m.)-14 (until 21:11 a.m.).
♎ Libra — 14 (from 9:11 pm) - 17 (until 9:37 am).
♏ Scorpio - 17 (from 09:37 a.m.)-19 (until 19:32 p.m.).
♐ Sagittarius - 19 (from 19:32)-21.
♑ Capricorn — 22-24 (until 06:14).
♒ Aquarius — 24 (from 06:00 14:00) - 26 (until 09:07).
♓ Pisces — 26 (from 09:07) - 28 (until 11:51).

July

♉ Taurus — 1-2 (up to 18:49), 27 (from 20:22)-29.
♊ Gemini - 2 (from 18:49)-4, 30-31.
♋ Cancer — 5-7 (up to 06:56).
♌ Leo — 7 (from 06:56) - 9 (until 16:46).
♍ Virgo — 9 (from 16:46)-12 (until 05:06).
♎ Libra — 12 (from 05:06)-14 (until 17:52).
♏ Scorpio — 14 (from 17:52) - 17 (until 04:24).
♐ Sagittarius — 17 (from 04:24) - 19 (until 11:12).
♑ Capricorn — 19 (from 11:12 a.m.) - 21 (until 2:43 p.m.).
♒ Aquarius — 21 (from 14:43) - 23 (until 16:22).
♓ Pisces — 23 (from 16:22) - 25 (until 17:52).
♈ Aries - 25 (from 17:52)-27 (until 20:22).

August

♋ Cancer - 1-3 (until 14:08), 28 (from 11:47)-30 (until 20:08).
♌ Leo — 3 (from 2 p.m. 08 p.m.)-5, 30 (until 8 p.m. 08 p.m.)-31.
♍ Virgo - 6-8 (until 12:31).
♎ Libra — 8 (from 12:31 a.m.)-10.
♏ Scorpio — 11-13 (until 13:00).
♐ Sagittarius — 13 (from 13:00)-15 (until 20:51).
♑ Capricorn - 15 (from 20:51) - 17.
♒ Aquarius — 18-19.
♓ Pisces - 20-21.
♈ Aries — 22-23.
♉ Taurus — 24-26 (until 06:04).
♊ Gemini — 26 (from 06:04) - 28 (up to 11:47).

September

♌ Leo - 1-2 (until 06:48), 27-29 (until 12:42).
♍ Virgo - 2 (from 06:48 a.m.)-4 (until 19:11 p.m.), 29 (from 12:42 p.m.)-30.
♎ Libra — 4 (from 19:11) - 7 (until 08:18).
♏ Scorpio — 7 (from 08:18) - 9 (until 20:25).
♐ Sagittarius — 9 (from 20:25)-12 (until 05:36).
♑ Capricorn — 12 (from 05:36)-14 (up to 10:52).
♒ Aquarius - 14 (from 10:52 a.m.)-16 (until 12:39 p.m.).
♓ Pisces - 16 (from 12:39) - 18 (until 12:23).
♈ Aries - 18 (from 12:23 pm)-20 (until 12:02 pm)
♉ Taurus — 20 (from 12:02 a.m.) - 22 (until 1:23 p.m.).
♊ Gemini — 22 (from 13:23) - 24 (until 17:49).
♋ Cancer - 24 (from 17:49)-26.

October

♍ Virgo — 1, 26 (from 18:47)-29 (until 07:29).
♎ Libra — 2-4 (until 14:21), 29 (from 07:29)-31 (until 20:29).
♏ Scorpio - 4 (from 14:21)-6, 31 (from 20:29)-31 (until 24:00).
♐ Sagittarius - 7-9 (until 12:38).
♑ Capricorn — 9 (from 12:38 a.m.) - 11 (until 7:31 p.m.).
♒ Aquarius — 11 (from 19:31) - 13 (until 22:55).
♓ Pisces - 13 (from 10:55 pm) - 15.
♈ Aries - 16-17 (until 23:00).
♉ Taurus - 17 (from 23:00)-19.
♊ Gemini - 20-21.
♋ Cancer - 22-24 (08h 24m).
♌ Leo — 24 (from 08:24) - 26 (until 18:47).

The table below shows favorable dates for mowing the lawn in 2024.

Month	Dates
May	1-6, 9-18 (until 13:22), 21-25 (until 18:36), 28-31
June	1-3 (until 08:54), 5 (from 11:36)-21, 24 (from 06:14)—30 (until 15:01)
July	2 (from 18:49)-11, 14 (from 17:52)-19 (until 11:12), 21 (from 14:43)-27 (until 20:22), 30-31
August	1-8 (until 12:31 pm), 11-15 (until 20:51 pm), 18-23, 26 (from 06:04)-31
September	1-4 (until 19:11), 7 (from 08:18)-12 (until 05:36), 14 (from 10:52)-20 (until 12:02), 22 (from 13:23) -30
October	1, 4 (from 14:21)-9 (until 12:38), 11 (from 19:31)-17 (until 23:00), 20-29 (until 07:29)

For more information on lawn care, read the following articles:

Work required before, during and after haircut

To ensure a successful lawn mowing, a gardener must carry out a series of preparatory tasks. This includes clearing away debris, stones, and fallen leaves, checking equipment, and combing the lawn with a broom or rake. If there are a lot of weeds, the area can be treated with herbicides. This treatment will lift the grass, making mowing much easier.

The quality of lawn care depends on specialized skills. Gardeners should consider factors such as:

specifics and scope of work;
equipped with tools;
relief features;
composition of the grass mixture used during planting.

Before starting to cut, the blades must be sharpened.

It is important to note that the lawn mower should be directed along or across the area.

Moreover, this should be done alternately. Cut and shredded grass should only be left on the lawn in dry, warm weather. Otherwise, earthworms and signs of rot will appear.

Timely removal of mown grass will reduce the risk of weeds appearing.

Grass that has grown more than 8-10 cm should not be mulched. Otherwise, the lawn will take on an untidy appearance.

Mowing is a must-do when preparing for winter. Ignoring this step can lead to the death of your lawn.

A lawn is a landscape design element that requires a financial investment in addition to time and effort. If a gardener follows proper cultivation techniques and professional advice, the results will not be long in coming.