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Overseeding may be one of the best things you do to lift the face of your lawn.

Proper overseeding would give your lawn a thicker, greener and more luscious appearance. However, many people don’t do it right so they don’t get the desired results.

Here is one question lawn owners often ask: ‘Can I mow after overseeding?’

This post will answer that, and other questions you might have. A healthy lawn is a deserved outcome for all your efforts.

Contents show

Can I Mow After Overseeding?

People often ask this question out of genuine concern for their lawn. Some people overseed just before the rains come, and can’t wait to get out there. Also, old grasses may be growing so fast you worry if they will not prevent the germinating grass from obtaining adequate sunlight.

The answer is yes. You can mow after overseeding. We’ll talk about how soon you should do so, later on.

Mowing after overseeding ensures that old grasses do not get so tall that they block the new grasses from obtaining adequate sunlight. Thus, the overseeded grasses can establish well in the lawn.

How Soon Can You Cut the Grass after Overseeding?

How soon you can cut the grass after overseeding depends on the height to which the grass is grown. How quickly the grass grows might also depend on its type.

For instance, certain grasses such as the Kentucky bluegrass, grow very quickly during Spring and Fall. Some other grasses like warmth and grow best in the Summer. Examples are Bermuda grass and zoysia grass.

Therefore, when you cut the grass depends on the type and how high they have grown. For cool-season grasses, you can cut when they are between 2.5 inches and 4 inches. Warm-season grasses can be cut for the first time when they are one to three inches high.

Generally, we suggest you wait for about two to four weeks after overseeding before you mow. This allows the seedlings to grow and establish their roots. Recommended mowing height is usually at least two inches.

Note: Keep an eye on the height of the grasses, and the thickness of your lawn. One trick you can practice is to look over the new grass and give one of them a light pull. This will help you determine how well rooted into the ground they are.

Remember, you don’t want old grasses to get so tall that they stifle new growth. At the same time, you don’t want to mow before your overseeds germinate.

How Do I Mow After Overseeding?

Mow With Razor-sharp Blades

How sharp your blades are when you mow is as important as when you mow, for the new grasses. Make sure you sharpen the mower blades to be as sharp as possible, right before you mow. Blunt blades can remove the turf of the soil and uproot newly growing grasses.

Aim to Cut the Top Growth Only

Set your lawn mower to cut higher than you ordinarily would. That is, start mowing at the highest setting. Cutting at a high level encourages the roots of grasses to reach deeper into the soil for nutrients.

Do not Make Sudden, Major Turns When Mowing

It is advisable to make your turns on the sidewalk or close to a hard surface.

Mow As Lightly As Possible

Mow gently, so you don’t destroy the newly growing grasses

Decide to Bag or Mulch

Bagging is great if you don’t want any leftovers on your lawn and you’re sure that all seeds are grown.

Bagging makes things tidier during the first mows especially if the grass has just been watered. Be careful though, new growth may be sucked into the bagger if you are not careful.

You should consider mulching if you expect more growth. The mulch helps to add more nutrients to the lawn.

Don’t Cut Too Low

Endeavor to cut the grasses to a height not less than 3 inches. If you cut them too short, they may be unable to obtain adequate moisture.

Should I Cut My Grass Before Overseeding?

For the best results, yes.

This enables grass seed to hit the soil and establish roots easily. We recommend that you mow when the lawn is dry.

Follow the following steps:

Cut Your Grass Shorter Than Usual
Don’t be afraid to mow low when you are about to overseed. We suggest the grass is not taller than two inches.
To achieve this, set your mower at 2 inches or less. You may even scalp the lawn. The grass will regrow normally.

Rake the Lawn
This helps to remove clippings. Raking also loosens up the soil and prepares it to receive the seeds

Remove Debris and Dead Grass
Cleaning up the lawn increases seed to soil contact.

Keep your Lawn Well Watered
This encourages the germination of the seeds.

How to Choose The Right Lawn mower for your Lawn

All you have to do before and after overseeding becomes much easier when you choose the best mower.

Consider these before you make a decision:

Your Lawn

One of the first things to consider is the size of your lawn. If you have a small lawn, you want to consider getting a push mower.

For a larger portion, you might consider purchasing a zero turn mower or self-propelled mower. It has a wider cutting width which saves time. It also comes with a mulching device, saving you the stress of gathering clippings by yourself.

You also want to consider the topography of your lawn, the type of grass you grow and how high you want them. For instance, with a steep lawn, a zero-turn mower may be inappropriate.

If you want grasses cut lower than 2 inches, you could consider a gas-powered reel mower. Meanwhile, a rotary mower could be useful if you don’t need to cut lower than 2 inches.

Safety

Prioritize safety features in your decision making. Ensure you are picking a mower with a blade shut off switch and a deadman control.

Ease of Maintenance

Choose a mower you can easily maintain based on the building material. Mowers with stainless steel decks are easier to maintain than those made with aluminium or plastic.

FInal Thoughts

With the right mower, you can mow your lawn before and after overseeding. And if you do things the right way, you are well on your way to a lush, thick and healthy lawn.