Every April the same question hits Guelph group chats: is it too early to mow? Here’s the answer we give clients — and why the first cut sets up the whole season.
The signal: growth, not the calendar
Don’t mow by date — mow when the grass is actively growing and has reached about 4 to 4.5 inches. In Guelph that’s usually late April to early May, but a warm spring can pull it earlier and a cold one can push it into mid-May. Two more conditions matter: the ground should be firm (mowing soggy spring soil compacts it and ruts it), and the lawn should be dry to the touch.
Don’t scalp the first cut
The classic spring mistake is cutting the first mow extra short “to clean it up.” That strips the plant of the leaf surface it needs to rebuild after winter, and it opens the soil to sunlight exactly when crabgrass seeds are waiting to germinate. Take the lawn to 3 inches and no lower — the same height we hold all season, for reasons we’ve covered in our 3-inch mowing guide.
Before the first cut
A proper spring cleanup comes first: matted leaves raked out, sticks cleared, beds tidied. Mowing over winter debris dulls blades and shreds material into the turf. If your lawn came out of winter thin or patchy, early spring is also the moment to plan aeration and overseeding for later in the season.
How often after that?
May and June are peak growth in Guelph — weekly mowing is the only way to stay inside the one-third rule during those months. By August, growth often slows enough to skip weeks, and we tell clients when it does; there’s no contract making you pay for cuts you don’t need.
Related reading: The Complete Spring Lawn Care Checklist for Guelph Homeowners · Why We Mow Every Guelph Lawn at 3 Inches