First mow of the season

When

Start when the grass is visibly growing and the ground is firm enough to walk on without leaving footprints, usually from late March to mid-April in a continental climate. Do not mow frozen, frosty or waterlogged grass; it tears and the wheels rut the soil.

How high

• Set the mower to its highest setting for the very first cut, just to top the grass.
• Over the next cuts, bring it down to 4–5 cm (about 1½–2 in) for cool-season lawns.
• Keep to the one-third rule: never remove more than a third of the blade at once.

Before you start

Sharpen or replace the blade over winter if you have not already; a blunt blade tears the tips, which then turn brown. Rake off leaves, twigs and other winter debris so they do not jam the mower or get shredded into the lawn.

Clippings

Collect the clippings from the first few cuts. Early-season growth can be lush, and clumps left on the lawn smother the grass and encourage disease. Later in spring, fine clippings can be left to return nutrients.

What follows

Around the same time, give the lawn its first spring feed. Regular weekly mowing follows from mid-April.