When to Cut Grass After Aeration and Seeding

Landscaping is, unfortunately, often seen a very difficult and complicated task. Many people think that taking good care of a yard and having healthy, beautiful grass requires a high skill level in the landscaping field, but the truth is, it does not. Caring for your grass is actually very easy. Even more so with these steps and tips for maintaining a healthy lawn in the following weeks after an aeration and seeding service by Lenards Lawncare in Virginia Beach.

Aeration and seeding are two of the most absolutely amazing things that you can do to improve the health, quality, and look of your lawn. These two highly beneficial services are typically performed during the autumn season. This is usually done for cold season grasses. Some examples of cold season grasses are fescue, bluegrass, bentgrass, and ryegrass. Aeration can significantly help other warm-season grasses as well, but these grasses will not require seeding. Aeration and seeding should not ever be done in the summer. The best time for this process to be done will be between late August and late October. After aeration and seeding, the lawn will need to be maintained and cared for several weeks. During this time, keep any foot traffic in the area to a minimum. Walking on the grass will damage the seed and slow down the growing process. You will also need to water the grass throughout the following weeks. It is best to water the grass in the morning rather than at night. Watering at night can cause fungus to grow as it thrives in moist dark places.

The most important thing to focus on during the first two weeks after this process is to keep the ground moist as the seed starts the germination process. The area should be watered for approximately ten to twenty minutes or until the water reaches a depth of about one-quarter inch, every day. It is crucial to remember not to overwater the grass, as this will wash away the seed. On the other hand, if you do not water the seed after it is planted, you will be wasting your time and money and the seed will new grow in dry soil. 

During the third and fourth week, the seed should be growing and beginning to thrive. At this time, you should continue watering the grass to keep the soil moist. However, you should cut the watering time down to three or four times per week.

Many people struggle to properly judge when to cut grass after aeration and seeding. When the lawn grows to be about four inches in height, it is time to cut the grass. Before you start mowing, it is ideal that you stop watering the seed about twenty-four hours prior in order to allow the grass to dry out a bit. When it is finally time to mow, use a small hand pushed mower. A riding mower will tear up the seed. Set the mower to the highest setting to ensure that the grass is not cut too short. This is very important. The newly planted grass will need time to grow and develop a good root structure before it can handle close-cut mowing. Cutting the grass too short will most likely result in the new grass being dug up. You would not believe how quickly the suction of mower blades will pull up a new seed. So, as a general rule, aim for blades about two inches in height.

Four weeks after the seeds are planted, it is safe to cut the grass as you please. Ideally, you should stick to being very careful not to damage any of the new grass as it may still be a bit fragile. You do not want to risk ruining your freshly grown lawn. At this time, you should still continue to water the lawn about once or twice per week, but be sure that you do not overdo it.
Hopefully, with these tips, you’ll be able to care for your lawn, decide exactly when you should cut grass after aeration and seeding, and keep your newly planted grass flourishing and beautiful all year round. It may seem difficult to take care of your lawn, but with this guide, anyone will be able to do it.