Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared on LawnStarter.
Most people are accustomed to following a set schedule each day. To stay healthy, your lawn also needs to follow a certain schedule, which includes mowing it at the right time.
Mid-morning, between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m., is the best time of day to mow grass.
Avoiding conditions that are too hot, too moist, and too late (or early) in the day reduces stress on your lawn and gives it plenty of time to recover before nightfall.
With tips from an expert, here are the best (and worst) times of day to mow grass.
Best: Mid-Morning
The best time of day to cut grass is mid-morning, between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m.
Here’s why it’s the ideal time:
- Less moisture: The morning dew has typically dried by this time. Mowing wet grass is one of the worst things you can do for your lawn. The blades will tear, and the clippings will clog your mower, so mowing after the dew dries is the way to go.
- Cooler time of day: By mowing mid-morning, you protect your grass from heat stress.
- Recovery: Your lawn needs time to recover before the sun goes down. With the night comes moisture and an increased risk of disease and fungal infections.
“People make so many mistakes when mowing because they think as long as they get the grass short, they’ve succeeded,” says Daniel Tengrove, owner of All Southern Lawn & Landscaping in Ocala, Florida.
“When you mow plays a big part in how healthy and strong your grass will be.”
Best: Late Afternoon
If you’re not a morning person, don’t worry, Tengrove says. The second best time to mow your lawn is late afternoon or early evening, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Here’s why:
- Low moisture: No dew on the grass means you won’t have to worry about poor cutting performance or encouraging disease on your lawn.
- Cooler time of day: Mowing after the hottest part of the day prevents heat stress.
- Recovery: Your lawn will have enough time to recover before nightfall, reducing the risk of disease.
Best: Late Morning
There are both benefits and drawbacks to mowing your grass in the late morning hours, from 10 a.m. to noon:
- Low moisture: The grass should be dry, so you won’t have to deal with the hassle of mowing wet grass.
- Too hot: After 10 a.m., the day might be too hot to mow the lawn without stressing it (or you), especially in hot climates. Heat stress can hinder your turfgrass’ ability to recover.
- Recovery: Mowing grass in the morning hours gives it enough time to recover before nightfall.
Let’s look at the worst times of day to mow your lawn.
Worst: Early Morning
The worst time to mow your lawn is early morning, between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m. Here are the reasons why:
- Too much moisture: In the early morning, dew still covers your turf. Cutting wet grass leaves your grass more susceptible to lawn diseases or fungus.
- Compacted soil and ruts: “Cutting wet grass is one of the worst things you can do,” Tengrove says. The mower blade will tear wet grass instead of slicing it cleanly, the soil will compact, and your lawn will have ruts. “Even a small mower can leave ruts in wet soil,” he adds, “and once they are there, they’re staying.”
- Clogged mower: Trimming the lawn when it’s wet can clog or damage your lawn mower.
- Too much noise: Mowing during early morning hours is not considered neighborly, since loud mowing disrupts the quiet. Some areas even have policies against it.
Worst: Midday
Although the grass will be dry midday, there are more disadvantages than benefits to mowing at this time:
- Dry grass: The one advantage of mowing midday is that the grass will be dry.
- Unsafe heat: It’s not safe for homeowners to mow midday in areas that experience extreme heat, which can cause heat stroke or sunburns.
- Slow grass recovery: Midday heat can stress mowed grass. Although your grass should recover before nightfall, heat stress can still weaken your lawn.
Worst: Evening
Another one of the worst times to mow your lawn is in the evening, after 6 p.m. Here’s why mowing late in the day is a problem for your lawn:
- Susceptible to lawn diseases: Grass cut in the evening may not heal and recover before nightfall. The moisture that forms overnight can cause lawns cut late in the day to be more susceptible to disease and fungus.
When Is the Best Time to Mow During Each Season?
With a change in seasons comes a change in how you do lawn care. Here are the best times of day to mow in each season of the year.
Spring
- Best time to mow: 8-10 a.m., after the dew evaporates, or 4-6 p.m.
- Notes: Spring is usually the rainy season. Opt for a later mowing time, if needed, to allow the dew and rainwater to evaporate.
Summer
- Best time to mow: 8-10 a.m., after the dew evaporates, or 4-6 p.m.
- Notes: Don’t mow dormant or drought-stricken grass during the summer. If you experience summer storms, wait until the grass is dry before you mow.
Fall
- Best time to mow: 8 a.m.-noon
- Notes: During fall, the best mowing time depends on the local temperatures.
Winter
- Best time to mow: Mowing isn’t necessary if the lawn is dormant.
- Notes: If your lawn continues to grow in winter (common only in extreme southern areas), mow during the warmest time of the day.