Is There a Best Time to Mow the Lawn?

Some people look forward to mowing the lawn and wait patiently throughout the week for it to be long enough to cut (cue the Home Depot theme song). Other people dread the summer chore and can’t wait to get it over with so they can reward themselves with a glass of lemonade. But, no matter how you feel about mowing, you might be surprised to learn when you should mow.

The best time to mow the lawn is mid-morning. By changing your routine and cutting the grass at one of those times, you could start to see healthier, greener grass.

But, why does the time of day matter?

Mid-morning tends to be the ideal time to mow because it gives your grass the chance to “heal” after the morning dew has evaporated. When you mow your lawn too short, it can take a toll on the health of the grass. This time allows it to recover for the rest of the day before night’s cool temperatures and more moisture come into play.

While you might be tempted to get the chore of mowing done first thing in the morning, doing so could end up damaging your grass.

Take a step into the yard first thing in the morning, and you’ll likely be met with wet shoes. When you cut wet grass with moisture that hasn’t yet evaporated, you could damage your mower. The heavy, wet grass can clump together and clog up the mower blades. Additionally, the wheels of your mower could end up pulling up bigger clumps of grass, creating patchy areas in your lawn.

On the other hand, mowing your lawn late in the day could also be problematic. If you mow in the middle of the day, you could end up making your grass more vulnerable to burning from the sun. If you’ve been working your tail off to achieve a healthy-looking yard, this is one mistake that could be making it impossible.

Finally, mid-morning could be the ideal time for you and your neighbors. You have the chance to enjoy an early morning cup of coffee and breakfast before mowing. Then, you can get the chore done before noon—not so early that you’ll annoy your neighborhood!

As a bonus, when you get the job done before lunch, you’ll have the rest of the day to relax without having to worry about it.

No matter how you feel about mowing the lawn, you probably still want things to look good. So, if you’re able to switch up your mowing routine, consider cutting the grass in the middle of the morning, and you’ll reap the rewards.