Mowing is a crucial landscaping routine that you should perform regularly. Reasons for mowing your lawn include improving its aesthetic appeal, weed control, and pest management. When coming up with your lawn care schedule, you realize that cutting the grass will make other maintenance practices effortless.
But how soon after cutting grass should you water? This is a question many people have as they seek to improve the lushness of their lawns. We will answer this question and many more to guide you in taking care of your lawn after mowing.
Contents
How Soon After Cutting Grass Should You Water Your Lawn?
You can water the lawn immediately after mowing, especially during hot seasons. A dry yard needs watering for its rejuvenation. Pass up watering if the soil is still moist. Watering in such a situation may end up in a muddy mess or waterlogging. Too much water can lead to a fungal problem or rotting.
The best answer to how soon you should water your lawn after mowing is when the grass requires water. A trick to rely on to know whether to water is walking on the lawn. If you see your footprints in the yard, it means you should turn on the sprinklers.
Alternatively, you may use the screwdriver test. Use a 5-6-inch screwdriver and stick it into the soil. If it moves easily, the soil is moist and does not need watering. The converse indicates that the ground is dry.
The Weather Factor and Watering After Mowing
Weather is a significant determinant of how soon you should water your grass after mowing. Keep off the sprinkler if you mow in the rainy season, as the rain will do the job. However, if it is sunny, like in the summer, you should water after cutting grass to retain your yard’s lushness.
Time is another determinant of whether you should water after mowing. The best mowing times are the morning and late afternoon.
Mowing in the mid-afternoon can leave the grass stressed and more prone to wilting. Watering is advisable if you cut grass at such times.
Should I Water Before or After Mowing?
You should never water before mowing if you want a smooth experience maintaining your lawn. The wet surface will be muddy once you start cutting the grass. A muddy surface is hard to tread on with your lawn. The moisture also causes longer grass blades to entangle, making trimming difficult.
If you use an electric lawn mower, a wet lawn exposes you to a risk of electrocution. A lawn mower with dull blades will tear rather than cut the damp grass. The outcome is an unkempt-looking yard. Wet grass can be slippery, and you may fall when working the lawn.
It’s better to let the yard dry before trimming the grass. If you decide to water before mowing, the mower’s blades should be sharp for a perfect cut. Also, clear the mower’s air passageways for easy handling.
The following are key things to remember when watering and maintaining your lawn after mowing.
- Don’t water when it’s scorching
- Set a regular watering/mowing schedule
Don’t Water When It Is Very Hot
You shouldn’t mow your lawn when it is hot, nor water it immediately. When it is hot, the grass in your yard loses water via evaporation and transpiration. Cutting at such times will lead to their yellowing. Watering won’t make much difference as the water evaporates instead of settling on the soil.
Some landscaping pros advise sustained watering when it is hot to counter the effects of evaporation. While it may seem a great idea, it is more like overworking, as you can achieve better results when it is cool. Moreover, you may mess up the soil by overwatering. As hinted, the best times to mow your lawn are in the early to mid-morning and late afternoons.
Set a Proper Mowing and Watering Schedule
Still, on how soon after cutting grass should you water your lawn, you should have a proper lawn maintenance schedule.
Spring is the best time to trim your yard. This season is rainy, so you do not have to worry about watering your lawn. The rain will leave a lush grass carpet as you head to summer.
Mowing in summer is okay, as the grass is mostly dry. However, the lawn will need regular morning and evening watering to bring the trimmed plants back to life.
What To Do About Grass Clippings
Some homeowners wonder what to do with grass clippings after mowing. You can do plenty with the clippings, depending on various factors. Leave short grass clippings on the lawn surface: decomposition of the grass forms organic fertilizer.
Discard longer clippings as they can form a mat that will prevent water, fertilizer, and light penetration. Do the same if you were mowing to control weeds and pests. Leaving clippings from infected plant parts and weeds can lead to a repeat situation.
Burn these clippings to deal with weeds and pests permanently. For resourcefulness, you may use the clippings as mulch or create organic fertilizer.
Final Thoughts
How soon after cutting grass should you water your lawn? Timing is crucial in this scenario, where you also pay attention to weather patterns. Mow in the mid-morning hours, when the heat is bearable, as the grass won’t lose much water. Follow up by watering in the late afternoon to replenish moisture lost when the heat peaked.
Do not water your lawn for the sake of it. Determine whether the grass needs water to avoid overwatering.
Hello! My name is Chris, and I am the founder of Yard Floor. When I was a toddler, my family had a lush green lawn. I was at the center of caring for and maintaining this lawn and even proceeded to take an associate’s Degree in landscaping. I am here to share my years of experience with you – be it repairing your mower/tractor or caring for your lawn.
