There is hardly a garden owner who doesn't dream of a beautiful lawn. However, for the dream to become reality, the care must be correct and the greenery must be mown regularly. What is particularly exciting is the question of when the freshly sown lawn can actually be mowed for the first time. The right time often has a significant impact on its further development.
General
There is no fixed time for mowing the lawn for the first time after sowing a new lawn. As a result, you cannot orient yourself based on the season or even a specific date. It is also not possible to give a specific time as to how many days or weeks must pass before the lawn mower should be used for the first time. The only criterion that really matters is the height or length of the individual blades of grass. In addition, as always when mowing the lawn, the weather conditions must also be right. And really sharp blades in the mower are also a must when mowing for the first time.
Growth height
As mentioned above, the length of the grass blades is the only criterion that can be used to determine the right time for the first mowing. Regardless of the season, the only thing that matters is the height of the plant. However, a distinction must be made between the different types of lawn. The following values apply:
- classic ornamental lawn: 80 to 85 millimeters
- Sports or ornamental lawn: 70 to 75 millimeters
- Shadow lawn: only from 100 millimeters
By the way, we speak of a shade lawn when the lawn in the garden receives very little light. To determine the length of the grass blades, measuring with a ruler or folding rule is strongly recommended. Since every millimeter can sometimes count, simply estimating it doesn't make sense. Admittedly, measuring takes a bit of effort and may look strange. However, it's worth it. In addition, not every single stalk has to be measured. Rather, random samples are sufficient and are best distributed over the entire area.
Weather conditions
To make the first mowing after sowing a success, you should only start the lawn mower when the weather conditions are right. These conditions are essentially identical to those that apply to any subsequent mowing operation. Very specifically:
- dry, rather overcast weather
- never mow in bright sunlight
- only start when the lawn is dry
- However, the area must not be dried out
An additional criterion is the average nighttime temperature. This can definitely slip into negative territory in the spring. If temperatures are below zero at night, it is generally not advisable to mow the lawn during the day, even when the temperatures are significantly higher, as otherwise damage to the plants and restricted growth can occur. When mowing for the first time, the general rule is that temperatures at night must not fall below a limit of five degrees Celsius. However, you don't have to use a thermometer in the dark to determine the night temperature. A quick look at a regional weather app is sufficient.
