Clint Waltz, a UGA Cooperative Extension specialist with the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences’ crop and soil sciences department, recently spoke with Southern Living about the best time of day to mow lawns.
“It’s better to mow when the canopy, or grass leaves, are dry,” said Waltz. “That means after the dew has dried, which is usually around mid-morning, even in the humid Southeast.”
Waltz added that it’s also OK to mow in the late afternoon — around 5:30-6 p.m.
It’s best to avoid mowing when the grass is wet because it sticks to mowers and is easier to create ruts in the ground.
It’s also important to mow at the correct height, according to Waltz.
“By mowing at the proper height, you’ll optimize the canopy density, root depth and volume,” he said. “When you have a more extensive root system, turf can pull water from a greater depth to withstand drought and other stressors better.”
