There's a rule in lawn care that most homeowners have never heard of, but that professional crews follow on every single yard, every single week. It's called the one-third rule, and understanding it will change how you think about mowing.

The concept is simple: never remove more than one-third of the grass blade in a single mowing. If your grass is three inches tall, you should cut no more than one inch off — leaving it at two inches. If it's four and a half inches, cut one and a half inches.

Simple in theory. But the implications are bigger than most people realize.

Every March, I show up to yards across Glen Allen, Short Pump, and Twin Hickory and see the same thing: lawns that wintered okay but aren't quite ready for what's coming. The grass is starting to green up, homeowners are eager to get outside, and the instinct is to jump straight into mowing and fertilizing. But rushing that process is one of the most common mistakes I see, and it can set a lawn back for months.

Spring lawn prep isn't complicated. But the order matters. Here's what we actually do — and in what sequence — to get lawns in central Virginia ready for a strong growing season.

As your lawn awakens from winter dormancy, so do weeds. Early spring is the perfect time to take control before weeds take over. Preventative care now will make a significant difference in maintaining a lush, green lawn throughout the year.