Mowing a newly seeded lawn requires a little patience. Wait until your grass is at least 3–4 inches tall before your first mow, and be sure to mow with a high blade setting. This will allow the new grass to develop strong roots and grow healthy.
Wait until your new grass reaches 3–4 inches before mowing. This gives the grass enough time to establish a solid root system. You usually need to wait a few weeks for this to happen.
Since the best time to seed in Southern Ontario is late summer-early fall, you probably won’t need to mow very many times before winter sets in.
Keep your mower at a higher setting for the first few mows. 3″-3.5″ is a good number for freshly seeded lawns. Cutting too short can stress young grass. Aim to remove no more than a third of the grass blade in one mow.
For the first mow, use a light touch. Don’t rush. Mow with a gentle speed to avoid disturbing the young grass too much. A slow, steady pass is ideal.
Make sure your blades are sharp. Dull blades can pull on the delicate roots being formed in the new grass.
Once the grass is established and growing well, mow every 7–14 days, depending on growth speed. Keep an eye on the grass height to guide you. Here’s a helpful guide on how often to mow your lawn.
After mowing, be sure to water your lawn well. Newly mowed grass needs moisture to bounce back strong. Also, avoid heavy foot traffic for a few days to let the grass heal and grow properly.
If possible, leave the grass clippings on the lawn to help bring back extra nutrients to the soil over winter.