Wait until grass reaches 3 inches before the first mow

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.

Why It Works

Mowing dormant or barely-growing grass stresses the plant and exposes soil to sunlight, encouraging weed germination. Letting grass reach 3 inches ensures it has enough leaf area to photosynthesize and recover from the first cut.

Tips

• In most northern regions this means late March to mid-April. In the South, warm-season lawns may not need their first cut until late April or May.
• The first mow removes brown winter blades and lets sunlight reach new green growth.