Maryland lawn care calendar, month by month.
Mowing starts in spring, March to April, and can run to late November.
Mowing season for a tall fescue lawn
Spring to late November.
Most Maryland lawns are mainly tall fescue, which grows in spring and fall.
Mid-October
is the latest to sow seed.
Late November
may bring the final mow.
How long is the grass cutting season in Maryland?
The grass cutting season in Maryland starts in spring, March to April, and can run to late November. Those dates are for tall fescue, cut at 3 to 4 inches. We mow lawns in Annapolis and across Anne Arundel County, and estimates are free.
Mowing, season by season.
Mow as needed
In peak spring, weekly may not be enough.
Wait for a dry lawn
Wet grass should not be mowed.
Mow high in heat
Use the highest mower setting in the hottest, driest part of summer.
Shorter last cut
Half an inch lower makes snow mold less likely.
Mowing height for tall fescue
3 to 4 inches
Cutting shorter brings more weeds.
- One thirdis the most to cut at once. To hold 3 inches, mow at 4.
- About 1 inchof water a week suits growing grass, rain included. Water deeply, not daily.
Source: University of Maryland Extension
What we do for lawns.
Lawn and landscape care
Mowing and seasonal cleanups.
Aeration and overseeding
Alone, or with mowing.
Sod installation
A new lawn, from sod.
GuideWhen to aerate and overseed
Dates, and care for new seed.
Questions
When should you start mowing in Maryland?
Regular mowing of a tall fescue lawn starts in spring, March to April, once the grass is actively growing. To keep the lawn at 3 inches, mow when it reaches 4. That takes off no more than one third of the blade.
When should you stop cutting grass in Maryland?
When the grass stops growing. A tall fescue lawn can keep growing in mild weather, so the final mow may be in late November. A last cut half an inch shorter than usual makes snow mold less likely. Through winter, stay off frozen or snow-covered grass, because walking on it can injure it.
What time of year should lawn care start in Maryland?
Spring for mowing, late summer for seeding. Late summer into early fall is the prime season to start a tall fescue lawn or to aerate one. Sow seed by mid-October at the latest.
How often should you mow your lawn in summer and in the fall?
As often as needed to keep up with growth. In fall, tall fescue is growing, so it is mowed regularly. While it is still growing in summer heat, mow at the highest setting, and once it goes dormant in hot, dry weather, stop mowing. At the spring peak, once a week may not be enough.
Can you mow when the grass is wet or right after rain?
No. A wet lawn should not be mowed, so wait until it is dry. Wet soil is also easy to pack down, so it is wise to stay off a lawn after heavy rain.
When is the last day to fertilize a lawn in Maryland?
November 15. That is the cutoff date in Maryland's lawn fertilizer law, so fall fertilizer goes down before it. The same law does not allow fertilizer to be used to melt ice.
Get a free estimate.
We mow, aerate and overseed, install sod, and do spring and fall cleanups. Estimates are free.
