When the snow falls and the weather warms, most state residents wonder, “When can you start mowing your lawn in Massachusetts?”
That question is first answered by determining the grass type in your yard. Cool-season grasses, like Kentucky bluegrass, ryegrass, and fescues, grow best in early fall and stay green longer into the winter before going dormant in summer. Warm-season grasses, like zoysiagrass, actively grow in the late spring when nights warm up and turn brown in mid-fall.
Mowing heights for each type of grass also differ. While the ideal grass cutting heights for cool-season grasses are between 2-4 inches, warm-season grasses should be mowed between 1-1.5 inches.
Most yards in Massachusetts have cool-season grasses. These mowing tips for cool-season grass types can help determine what height you should mow by season, ensuring your yard is pristine year-round.
Spring & Fall Mowing (Active Growth)
- Ideal height: 2-3 inches
- Why: Mowing height is the most critical parameter of mowing. Like other plants, grasses rely on photosynthesis to manufacture nutrients that help development into a high-quality lawn. When you mow at lower heights, you risk restricting your lawn’s photosynthetic ability, compromising its vigor.
- Mowing frequency: Weekly
Summer Mowing (Dormancy)
- Ideal height: 3-4 inches
- Why: Cool-season grasses may go dormant when faced with the Massachusetts heat and drought, stopping their growth. During this time, it’s important to limit stress on your lawn, further damaging grass that may already be struggling with drought stress. Minimize traffic and excessive activity during this time.
- Mowing frequency: 7-10 days.
Fall Mowing (Transition to Winter)
Starting in late October, mow your lawn down in 2-3 mowings by lowering the blade 0.5 inches at a time. This will help you transition your lawn into winter without causing too much stress.
Last Mow of the Season
- Ideal height: 2-2.5 inches
- Why: Go into the winter months to reduce matting and snow mold activity.
At Hartney Greymont, we have local arborists and professional turf specialists in Needham, Concord, Danvers, Cape Cod and the surrounding areas, with the expertise to help keep your lawn healthy in every season.
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