How to mow correctly in spring?

Wait for the grass and soil surface to dry before mowing. If morning dew is heavy, mow in the late morning or early afternoon instead.

If you maintain bermuda or zoysia at 1 to 2 inches, consider switching from a rotary mower to a reel mower. Reel mowers cut with a scissor action that produces a cleaner, healthier cut at low heights.

Change your mowing pattern every time you mow. If you went north-south last time, go east-west next. Occasionally mow diagonally for variety.

During the spring growth surge (typically April through May for cool-season grasses), plan to mow every 5 to 7 days. In especially wet, warm springs you may need to mow twice per week to stay within the one-third rule.

Maintain bermudagrass at 1 to 1.5 inches and zoysiagrass at 1.5 to 2.5 inches during the growing season. St. Augustinegrass prefers 2.5 to 3 inches.

Set your mower deck to maintain Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue, and perennial ryegrass at 3 to 4 inches throughout spring. Start closer to 3 inches in early spring, then raise toward 4 inches as summer heat approaches.

Bag the clippings from your first spring mow to remove dead winter debris, then switch to mulching for the rest of the season.

Never remove more than one-third of the grass blade height in a single mowing. If your target height is 3 inches, mow when the grass reaches 4 to 4.5 inches.

For the very first mow of the season, drop your mower height by one notch (about half an inch lower than your normal setting). Mow the entire lawn, then immediately raise the deck back to normal height for all subsequent mows.

Do not start mowing based on the calendar. Wait until the grass has actively grown to about 3 inches tall, which typically happens when air temperatures consistently exceed 60°F for cool-season grass or 80°F for warm-season varieties.