Lawn got seeded/aerated, can I mow?

[spidey07]

I'm a little confused. The instructions call for making sure you keep the ground moist constantly for 2-3 weeks for good germination, daily watering if not twice daily. Aerate/Seed was done today.

Then it says stay off the lawn 3-4 weeks. Also says any visible clippings from mowing should be removed or raked. But I REALLY need to mow, at the same time I want to make sure the money I spent isn't wasted as I try to get my lawn in good shape.

 

[MrChad]

I'm in the same situation and would also like to know the answer to this.

 

[Capt Caveman]

How long has it been since the grass seeds sprouted? And how high is your grass?

More than likely it won't be an issue but I wouldn't cut it unless it was over 3 inches high.

 

[BigJ]

If you just recently seeded, you're throwing your money away if you mow.

You're supposed to cut your lawn on a low setting before you seed.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: BigJ
If you just recently seeded, you're throwing your money away if you mow.

You're supposed to cut your lawn on a low setting before you seed.

I had scott's do it. It's been in the mid-upper 80s here, KY, and they just showed up today because the weather cooperated. I tried calling them for answers but customer service is closed. Trying their forums as well, but you know how smart ATOT is.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman
How long has it been since the grass seeds sprouted? And how high is your grass?

More than likely it won't be an issue but I wouldn't cut it unless it was over 3 inches high.

Well over 3 inches, just got seeded today. Instructions are to mow as high as possible - 4-4.5" 10-14 days after germination. of course no germination yet.

If I mow there will be a good amount of clippings left on the lawn. I figure that can be a good and bad thing for new seed.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman
How long has it been since the grass seeds sprouted? And how high is your grass?

More than likely it won't be an issue but I wouldn't cut it unless it was over 3 inches high.

Well over 3 inches, just got seeded today. Instructions are to mow as high as possible - 4-4.5" 10-14 days after germination. of course no germination yet.

If I mow there will be a good amount of clippings left on the lawn. I figure that can be a good and bad thing for new seed.

If you mow your lawn, are you going to have to disturb the seeded areas? If not, any clippings that may go over the seeded areas will just act like mulch and you'll be fine imho.

Note - I have to constantly patch my lawn b/c of my dogs and I mow my lawn twice a week. The patch areas still germinate and grow grass.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman
If you mow your lawn, are you going to have to disturb the seeded areas? If not, any clippings that may go over the seeded areas will just act like mulch and you'll be fine imho.

Note - I have to constantly patch my lawn b/c of my dogs and I mow my lawn twice a week. The patch areas still germinate and grow grass.

That's kind of what I was thinking. My mower does a really good job of mulching. The entire lawn was seeded with a broadcast spreader after aeration, so yeah I'm mowing seeded areas. The mulching might help to keep the seed/ground wet.

 

[JD50]

Don't mow.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: JD50
Don't mow.

Well when the HOA nazis send me nastygrams I have plausible deniability - "sorry bishes, I'm trying to grow a nice lawn". Thanks!

 

[boomerang]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: JD50
Don't mow.

Well when the HOA nazis send me nastygrams I have plausible deniability - "sorry bishes, I'm trying to grow a nice lawn". Thanks!

That'll stymie their little pointed heads.

 

[AmdEmAll]

I used to work for Natural Way Lawn, doing mainly aerating.

Mow on the highest setting. Do not bag, just let it mulch. Should have mowed before the aerating and seeding but nothing you can do about it now.

 

[Squisher]

You won't have a problem until the seeds sprout. Get out there tomorrow at the latest.

Even if the seeds had sprouted all you are going to kill are where the wheels are on the mower and and where you are walking. To minimize this mow using huge jumping steps with your footfalls on the wheel lines. Get someone to take a video.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: Squisher
You won't have a problem until the seeds sprout. Get out there tomorrow at the latest.

Even if the seeds had sprouted all you are going to kill are where the wheels are on the mower and and where you are walking. To minimize this mow using huge jumping steps with your footfalls on the wheel lines. Get someone to take a video.

Laugh now, but that sounds like the best I can do if I must mow. I'm leaning to not mowing.

 

[rise]

Originally posted by: JD50
Don't mow.

yep

 

[alkemyst]

ALL ABOARD THE FAILMOWER!

If you mow or not you are screwed. Only on ATOT can a process that's been failproof for 100's of years come to a clusterfuck.

 

[rasczak]

My front yard is as bare as the sahara. I take it now is the time to grow grass? what steps did you take to prepare your soil? another issue is my front yard is not level, how do you guys level the dirt?

 

[grohl]

Originally posted by: rasczak
My front yard is as bare as the sahara. I take it now is the time to grow grass? what steps did you take to prepare your soil? another issue is my front yard is not level, how do you guys level the dirt?

Depends on where you live and what grass you plant. Here in the south its a perfect time for ryegrass. Would wait until early spring for bermuda st augustine.

 

[TridenT]

Originally posted by: JD50
Don't mow.

 

[Tobolo]

Do not mow. If the ground moisture is high enough for germination (1-2 a day) then you will drolly destroy the grass with the mower. If it is too dry the mower will move the seed. Really bad if you have one of those recycling mowers.

 

[rasczak]

Originally posted by: grohl

Originally posted by: rasczak
My front yard is as bare as the sahara. I take it now is the time to grow grass? what steps did you take to prepare your soil? another issue is my front yard is not level, how do you guys level the dirt?

Depends on where you live and what grass you plant. Here in the south its a perfect time for ryegrass. Would wait until early spring for bermuda st augustine.

I live is San Diego, Ca.

 

[spidey07]

Well you guys convinced me to not mow. That and a call to Scotts also said the same thing, they said "You really shouldn't mow for the first two weeks, 3 would be better"

So basically nothing good can come from mowing, only bad. And apparently the key to good germination is you gotta keep the ground constantly moist so I'll be setting up a sprinkler system and timers to water at least twice per day. Once in the morning and then late afternoon. I will say they did a good job of aerating and the price was very reasonable.

 

[amdskip]

They aerated our front yards and supposedly seeded but I sure as heck can't see any seed. I've been watering as much as I can but no one else seems to be doing it.

 

[spidey07]

Gonna go ahead and bump this so others can learn. Keeping the lawn moist 24x7 but it takes a lot of work to do so, have 6 sprinklers rainbird types now running on timers. I will not let the precious seeds die!!!!

Precious will grow, she will germinate and be mine soon. With time and care, seedlings will be mine.

 

[Pacfanweb]

Hell no, don't mow it right after it was seeded!! You'll blow the seeds all over the place. If you're going to mow it, you damn sure better wait at least a week or so.