Choosing the right seed – Check!
Aerating or verticutting – Check!
Watering your new seed – Check!
Mowing your new seed – Well…How often do I mow? Is it the same as when I normally mow my lawn?
We asked our Lawn Coaches these questions and this is what they had to say:
Mowing New Seed

Example of mowing in a diagonal pattern.
Diagram by Lawn Coach, Jason Clarkson.
Firstly, Lawn Coach, Brian Hiatt, explains the basics of knowing when to mow and how to go about it, “After your new grass is 4 inches tall, you can do your first mowing. I recommend mowing with the push mower at its highest mowing height. With a fall seeding, leaves in the neighborhood will start to fall, to keep leaves and other debris off the lawn with frequent mowing, heavy leaf cover can suffocate new grass. After 2 to 3 mows, weed control can be applied to the lawn again without affecting the new grass.”

Example of mowing in a horizontal pattern.
Diagram by Lawn Coach, Jason Clarkson.
Lawn Coach, Jason Clarkson, agreed with Brian about debris, “Make sure you rake up any debris left on the ground so you don’t allow leave anything over the new grass to desiccate in areas where clumps may be. I also recommend the mowing to be in the evening where there is no dew so the grass does not clump.”
Jason also elaborated on why you should you a push mower at first, “I suggest using a push mower to avoid compacting the new grass under the heavy riding mower tires.”

Example of mowing in a vertical pattern.
Diagram put together by Lawn Coach, Jason Clarkson.
Then, Jason went on to explain the importance of your mowing patterns, “After your first mow, make sure you stay on top of it and mow every 5-7 days as needed. As well as making sure you’re changing your mowing patterns in the lawn so you don’t cause tire ruts in the lawn by mowing the same direction.”
Thank You Lawn Coaches and Irrigation Professionals!
As the end of the seeding window begins to draw closer, we would like to give a big thanks to all of the team members who gave us their professional insights. They’ve been busy this season trying to fit everyone into this short seeding window. We hope that their advice has given you helpful information to make the right decisions for your lawn! If you have any further question, please call the office today!