Tips for Mowing Your Lawn in the Spring in Illinois

Tips for Mowing Your Lawn in the Spring in Illinois

It's finally spring here in Illinois and your grass is emerging from winter dormancy. It's time to break out the lawn mower! There are a few things to be mindful of before you do so, though. The first mow of the growing season is imperative to the health of your grass and it's important to get it right the first time!

First and foremost, you don’t want to start mowing too early in the year. Ideally, you want to start mowing when the weather has warmed up a bit in March or April. When it's finally time to mow, make sure that the mower deck is set a little bit lower than normal to ensure that you get rid of the dead parts of your grass. Lastly, before you turn that mower on, make sure that your blades are nice and sharp to avoid ripping and damaging your grass. Keep reading to learn more about these best lawn mowing practices to follow this spring.

The first mow of the spring season should be in late March or April.

You should avoid mowing your lawn too early in the year. In January and February, your grass has not yet fully emerged from winter dormancy, and it’s still conserving energy to survive the colder weather. If you mow your lawn during this time, you could end up damaging your grass and making it more vulnerable to cold weather and turf diseases. You should aim to start mowing your lawn after things have warmed up a bit in the spring. Typically, in Illinois, this means waiting until late March or April.

Set your deck height a little lower than normal for the first mow of the season.

When your grass emerges from winter dormancy, it is normal for the top of your grass blades to be dead. We'll want to ensure that the dead parts are removed during the first mow of the season, so it is important to set the deck height a little lower than you normally would. After the first mow, you can then adjust the deck height back to normal for the rest of the growing season.

Make sure your mower blades are sharp before cutting your grass this spring.

As you prepare to mow your grass this spring, you need to ensure your mower blades are as sharp as can be! You never want to cut your grass with dull blades because they can rip and tear your grass apart. When your grass is torn, it will put most of its energy towards recovering, which in turn, makes it more vulnerable to pests and diseases. Torn grass also brings down your curb appeal because your lawn will look uneven and messy. Sharpened mower blades will result in clean, even cuts, which means your grass can focus on growing and strengthening up for the summer season ahead.

Looking for someone to mow your lawn this spring? Call us today to sign up for our lawn mowing service!

Mowing your lawn correctly is vital to ensuring that your grass remains healthy and doesn't become susceptible to issues like turf diseases and insect infestations. That’s why at Creekside Landscapes, our crew follows all of the best mowing practices to keep your lawn healthy, not only in the spring but year-round. We offer our services to commercial, HOA, and residential properties in the Edwardsville, Illinois area, including cities such as Glen Carbon, Bethalto, and Maryville. Call us today at (618) 374-0010 to sign up for our lawn mowing service!