When to mow the lawn after winter, seeding or overseeding

During Winter (January/February)

I don’t usually recommend mowing during the Winter. Even though, contrary to belief, the grass is still likely to be growing very slowly.

If you’re like me, then it’s a good idea to keep your grass that little bit longer during the Winter months.

That means you shouldn’t need to be mowing in February just yet. You can neaten it up though – just do a light trim off the top to keep it looking neat and tidy. Don’t go too low though -save that for the Spring

When to mow in each month of the year

Mowing is of course an important part of your year-round programme. Remember though the below is a general rule of thumb. If you want super short grass, you’ll need to significantly increase the mowing frequency to what I’ve outlined here.

March

Mow every 2-3 weeks.

In the UK, March is likely to be the beginning of the growth period. Ensure that the ground has thawed, and the grass has started to grow.

Set your lawn mower to a higher cutting height for the first few mows of the season.

March is also the time when you should make sure your mower blades are sharp. Dull blades can tear the grass, leading to a brown, unhealthy appearance.

April

Mow every 10-days to 2 weeks.

In April, you’re likely to see more aggressive growth. This is when you can gradually start reducing the mowing height.

While I do have some tips for mowing when it’s wet, at this time of year, it’s best to mow when it’s dry. Especially if you want to go lower.

May & June

Mow frequently during the hotter months – weekly if you can.

Your lawn feed has probably started kicking in by now and that means excessive growth.

If you leave it to grow for longer than a week, then you should be wary that if you take too much off, it could be brown underneath.

July & August

Continue to mow weekly or every 2 weeks. Growth may be slower than June because these are often the hottest months of the year. That’s why you should be aware of what to do (and not to do in a heatwave)

When to mow during a heatwave

Unbeknownst to many, a heatwave causes just as much stress as frost does. This means the grass is likely to stop growing.

During a heatwave, prevent stress on the grass and minimise the risk of damage by mowing early morning or evening – if you feel the need to.

This was my mistake in a heatwave…

I’ve made the mistake in previous years of mowing way too low just before a heatwave.

The grass looked sooo brown and dry during this period and only really bounced back when I let it grow long again.

September

Every fortnight

Now you can reduce when you’re mowing to every couple of weeks.

Some of us love it, some of us hate it. But Either way, the days are getting shorter and the garden less inviting.

When to Stop Mowing

October/November

1-3 times during the two months (or according to preference).

At this time, you’re mowing will slow drastically. However, you may need to mow it after applying an Autumn Feed.

Some people, like to keep it short right up until December. Though, my personal preference is to start preparing for my last cut by raising the mowing height a little.

December/January

No low mowing from December to January, really. However, while I don’t recommend going to low, you can always neaten it up by trimming it. Just remember that the grass is going to be extremely wet so it will definitely clump up under the mower blades.

When to mow the lawn after seeding or overseeding

I’m asked this a lot, via our contact form.

“How long do I need to wait after overseeding before I mow the lawn”

The truth is, you can continue to mow while the seed is still germinating. The mower isn’t going to kill, or even hurt the seed. However, once the seed becomes.

The other popular question is “When can I mow after starting a lawn from scratch?”

Of course, if you’re starting a lawn from scratch, you’re not going to mow while it germinates. In this instance, I’d wait until

Summary of when to mow in which months

Month	Mowing Frequency
Jan/Feb	No mowing unless you really want to
March	Mow every 2-3 weeks
April	every 10-days to 2 weeks.
May	mow weekly or every 2 weeks
June	mow weekly or every 2 weeks
July	mow weekly or every 2 weeks
August	mow weekly or every 2 weeks
September	Every couple of weeks.
October/November	1-3 times during the two months (or according to preference)
December	No mowing unless you really want to