Is It Too Early To Mow Lawn In March? (Best Time To Start Lawn Care)

Springtime is right around the corner, and you are probably getting ready to bring your garden back to life after the cold winter. Let us slow down a little and make sure we are caring for and mowing our lawn at the right time, is March too early? 

March is too early to mow your lawn unless it has warmed up quite a bit in February. It is preferred to mow your lawn at the end of March or April once the soil has dried and the grass has grown to 3 to 4 inches. Other lawn care should happen in mid-spring until fall.

We don’t want to jump ahead and start lawn care too early, causing it more stress to rejuvenate. Waiting for the correct time will help boost the strength of your grass to undergo care and mowing.

Is March Too Early To Mow Your Lawn?

Many people suggest you start mowing your lawn in early March, but this is not always the case, and if you do it too early, it can badly impact the grass. If you mow your lawn too early or at a low setting, you can cause your grass to go into survival stress because it is still dormant and starting to come out of this state. 

The grass leaves are very important as this is where photosynthesis occurs to make energy and where energy is stored during the winter that it now needs to grow. If the lawn is mowed too early, the stored energy will regenerate the leaves again instead of strengthening the roots and grass. 

Another reason you should wait is that the soil is still very wet from the winter; if you mow it too early, the pressure from your feet and the mower will further compact your soil which is not good. The only time it may be okay to mow your lawn in March is if it is starting to get warm in February and early March. 

Lawns that may be mowed in March are golf courses and athletic fields, but this grass is very different from home gardens. It is best to do other lawn care throughout March and mow your lawn for the first time in late March or April; once your lawn is 3 to 4 inches long, the weather would have warmed up to a good temperature by then. Remember the 1/3 rule when mowing your lawn; cut it down to a height of 2 to 2 ½ inches. 

When Can We Start With Lawn Care?

Waiting for the right time to start lawn care is important; this is once the soil has dried up a bit, it is warmer, and the grass has grown enough. You can do a few other things to care for your lawn; let us look at some of these.

Spring Cleaning Our Lawn

After winter and fall, you may find that your lawn has collected a layer of leaves and other debris, which is not great to leave lying on top of the grass. Even though it is very tempting to rake your lawn at the end of winter or the beginning of March, it is best to wait till the soil has dried up a bit. 

It is essential to remove the debris because it can block out the sunlight, and moisture builds up underneath the debris, forming a breeding ground for disease, pests, and mold. Once the time is right, middle to end of March, give your lawn a gentle rake to help get your grass ready for its first cut. 

Fill In Your Lawns Bare Patches

Once you have mowed your lawn, you might notice that you have a few patches of no grass, which may be caused by our pets walking over the grass or from the cold. You can add grass seed to these patches to help fill them in; if you have warm-season grass, then the best time to overseedseed is in late spring. 

If you live in a cold region and have cool-season grass, it is best to overseed in fall. Once you have planted the seed, apply slow-release nitrogen fertilizer to promote fast growth and water it regularly. You don’t only have to apply seed to patches of no grass, but instead, you can apply it over the entire lawn promoting thick, healthy, and luscious grass. 

Is It Good To Aerate Your Soil

Aerating your soil will be very beneficial if your lawn has a lot of traffic, such as pets running all over it and kids playing on it daily, which may cause soil compaction. You can also tell if your soil needs to be aerated if you find moss growing in your grass because it thrives in compacted soil. 

The best time to aerate warm-season grass is in late spring to early summer and the best time for cool-season grass is in the fall. Although if you find that your soil is very compacted in springtime where your grass is struggling to grow properly, then you may need to aerate earlier in spring.

Prevent And Kill Weeds

If you have realized that your lawn is prone to getting weeds, it is good to apply a herbicide to prevent and kill any growth. Spring is a favorable time to apply herbicides on our lawn, although it is best to check the packaging to see when they recommend application time.

When To Fertilize Your Lawn?

You can either use synthetic fertilizers, organic fertilizers, or compost on your lawn to feed it the right nutrients. It is important to fertilize your grass at the recommended time of the year, depending on the kind of grass you have or the region you live in. 

If you live in a warm area, you probably have warm-season grass; the best time to fertilize is late spring and mid-summer. Cool-season grass usually grows in cold areas; this grass should be fertilized in spring and fall.

When To Water Your Lawn?

Once spring begins, you don’t want to start increasing how much you water compared to winter; the reason for this is the soil is still very wet. Keep watering as you did throughout winter and increase as the temperature rises and gets closer to April.

Wrapping Up

The time for mowing and lawn care is very important; it will ensure your grass has efficient time to rejuvenate from being dormant in winter without the stress of being mowed too early. 

It is important to follow the times and look for signs when to start with lawn care, things like when it gets warm enough, the soil dries up, and your grass starts to grow.