The Long Mowing Season in Coastal BC: When to Start, When to Stop, and What to Do in the Rain

In coastal BC, plan to mow from about March to November. Nanaimo, Abbotsford and Chilliwack get 194 to 208 frost-free days a year. Kelowna gets 140. Grass keeps growing while daytime highs stay above about 10°C (50°F). On the coast, normal highs pass that mark in March and drop below it in November. Mow high, never take more than a third, and wait for dry days in the wet months.

How long is the mowing season in coastal BC?

These three cities have the longest frost-free seasons of any BC city we cover. Here's what Environment Canada's 1981 to 2010 climate normals show:

City (station)	Last spring frost	First fall frost	Frost-free days
Nanaimo (airport)	Around April 14	Around October 26	About 194
Abbotsford (airport)	Around April 7	Around November 1	About 208
Chilliwack	Around April 7	Around November 1	About 207
Kelowna (airport)	Around May 10	Around September 28	About 140
Prince George (airport)	Around May 26	Around September 5	About 101

Abbotsford and Chilliwack get about two months more than Kelowna. Prince George gets about half of Nanaimo's season. That gap shows up in how many times you mow. A coastal lawn can need cutting for about nine months, March through November.

When does grass start and stop growing on the coast?

Frost alone doesn't stop a lawn. Temperature does. Iowa State University Extension says cool-season grass stops growing when daytime highs stay below 10°C (50°F). The Guelph Turfgrass Institute says growth starts when the soil warms to about 4.5 to 7°C (40 to 45°F).

Here are the normal daily highs for the edges of the season:

City	February	March	October	November	December
Nanaimo	8.5°C	11.0°C	14.6°C	9.3°C	6.3°C
Abbotsford	9.0°C	11.6°C	15.0°C	9.3°C	5.9°C
Chilliwack	8.8°C	11.8°C	15.3°C	9.3°C	6.0°C

So in a normal year, growth picks up in March and fades through November. A warm spell in February or December can wake the grass for a week or two. Kelowna is different. Its normal November high is only 5.6°C, so growth there ends weeks sooner.

Our post on when grass stops growing explains the 10°C rule in more detail.

When should I do the first cut of spring?

Cut when the grass grows taller than your target height, not on a set date. Chilliwack suggests mowing so the grass is left about 7 to 8 cm (3 inches) high. Abbotsford's water-wise lawn guide says to aim for about 3 inches too.

Abbotsford's guide adds a rule on how much to cut: never remove more than one third of the grass at once. So if you want to leave 7.5 cm (3 inches), mow before it passes about 11 cm (4.5 inches).

On the coast, that point often comes in March. Walk the lawn first and pick up the sticks and cones winter left behind. Then wait for a dry afternoon. Our guide to the first mow of spring covers the rest.

How often will I need to mow in spring and fall?

More often than you think. Penn State Extension says cool-season grass grows leaves best at 15 to 24°C (60 to 75°F). It also says new shoots peak in early spring and fall, and root growth is greatest then too.

Coastal weather sits in that sweet spot for long stretches. Normal highs in Abbotsford are 18.1°C in May and 21.3°C in September. Nanaimo is close behind. That's why spring and early fall are the busiest mowing months on the coast.

Our FAQ on how often to mow in Canada has a simple rule of thumb for spacing cuts.

What happens to coastal lawns in summer?

They dry out. People are often surprised by this. The Regional District of Nanaimo says the area gets only about 100 mm of rain in June, July and August combined. That's less than parts of the Okanagan get in the same months. Abbotsford's lawn guide says August gets only 20% of November's rain.

The good news: you don't have to fight it. All three local governments say a lawn can go dormant, or "golden," in summer:

• Nanaimo area: the RDN says a golden lawn will green up again with the fall rains.
• Abbotsford: letting grass go dormant is "the easiest and most water wise option."
• Chilliwack: unwatered lawns go golden, then rebound once fall rains come.

A dormant lawn barely grows, so mowing slows down in July and August. Chilliwack also says not to mow when it's very dry. Keep the mower high and leave the clippings. If you do water, follow your city's rules. See our guides for Nanaimo, Abbotsford and Chilliwack.

How do I mow when it rains all fall?

This is the hard part of a coastal season. The rain comes back hard just as the grass gets its second wind. Normal November rain and snow:

• Nanaimo: about 197 mm
• Abbotsford: about 248 mm
• Chilliwack: about 284 mm

In Nanaimo, more than three quarters of the year's rain and snow falls from October to March. Chilliwack's lawn tips say not to mow when the grass is very wet. Wet grass clumps, tears and leaves ruts in soft ground.

Here's what works in a wet fall:

• Watch the forecast for a dry afternoon and mow then.
• Don't skip too long. If the grass gets tall, take one third now and the rest a few days later.
• Raise the deck a notch for a damp cut. A sharp blade slices wet grass more cleanly.
• Clean grass off the deck when you're done so it doesn't rust or rot.

If you hire a crew, rain moves your visit to the next dry day. Our FAQ on what happens if it rains on your mowing day explains how that works.

Is there a long grass limit in these cities?

Yes in two of them. A long season means a few missed weeks in spring can push you over.

• Abbotsford: the Good Neighbour Bylaw, No. 3068-2024, says grass must not be over 10 inches (about 25 cm). You also have to keep the grassed boulevard in front of your home trimmed.
• Chilliwack: the Community Standards Bylaw, No. 5041, says grass over 25 cm (about 10 inches) is unsightly. That includes the boulevard next to your property.
• Nanaimo: Bylaw No. 7242 sets no grass height. It does say owners must remove brush or overgrowth that becomes a nuisance.

Abbotsford's bylaw also says you can't let dead or fallen leaves pile up on your property. That ties right into fall cleanup.

When is the last cut, and what about the leaves?

Keep mowing as long as the grass grows. On the coast, that's often into November. Make the last cut at your normal height. Our post on the last mow of the season covers the details.

Leaves matter more than the last cut. Iowa State Extension says leaf debris blocks light, so grass can't make and store food before winter. On a wet coast, a soggy mat of leaves sits on the lawn for months. Rake or mulch them before they pile up.

All three cities take leaves in the green cart:

• Nanaimo: leaves, grass and light trimmings go in loose. They stick to the cart when wet and packed down.
• Abbotsford: the green cart takes grass, leaves, weeds and branches. It's collected weekly. No plastic bags of any kind.
• Chilliwack: weekly green cart pickup, plus up to 10 extra kraft paper yard waste bags or bundled branches a week, all year.

A fall cleanup clears the leaves and gives the lawn its last cut in one visit.

Who can mow my lawn through a long coastal season?

Golden Oak Lawn Care matches you with a vetted, insured local crew in Nanaimo, Abbotsford or Chilliwack. They do the work. We stand behind it with the Golden Oak Guarantee.

A long season means a lot of cuts. With the Worry-Free Lawn Season, the same crew does your lawn mowing every visit and texts you a photo after every cut. You pay for the season up front and can pause by text for vacations. Our partner crews don't spray, so weeds and pests stay off the list. See all our BC cities.

Want it handled? Get your price in 60 minutes, or call 1-866-904-LAWN.

Coastal BC Mowing Season Questions

Rules change, so check with the City before you plan. Sources: Canadian climate normals, Iowa State Extension: when to stop mowing, Iowa State Extension: fall lawn care, Guelph Turfgrass Institute, Penn State Extension, RDN outdoor water use, Abbotsford water-wise lawn care, Chilliwack: In the Yard, Abbotsford Good Neighbour Bylaw, Chilliwack Community Standards Bylaw, Nanaimo Bylaw 7242, Nanaimo green cart, Abbotsford 2026 cart guide, Chilliwack curbside compostables.