Why Does My Lawn Still Look Messy After Mowing? Here's What's Really Going On

One of the most common calls we get this time of year goes something like this: “Hey, I don’t think you guys mowed my lawn this week.”

We get it—but nine times out of ten, we were there. The real issue? Dandelions.

When your lawn is full of dandelions, it can look like we skipped it even though we didn’t. Their tall, hollow stems shoot up fast, and they’re nothing like regular grass. Our mower blades spin at thousands of RPMs, and we even double-cut many lawns—going over them twice at no extra charge—just to keep things looking clean. But dandelions don’t play fair. Their stems fold and bend, kind of like trying to cut a loose rope with scissors. You can mow today, and by tomorrow afternoon they’re already back.

The real solution isn’t more mowing. It’s better lawn care. A proper fertilization and weed control program will strengthen the grass so it can outcompete weeds and let us spray the dandelions once they’ve emerged. We don’t spray them too early, because if they’re not fully grown in, it won’t work. You have to hit them with post-emergent weed control at the right time to knock them down.

Mowing helps manage things visually, but it’s not the fix. If you’re constantly seeing dandelions, that’s not a mowing issue—it’s a lawn health issue. Fertilization, weed control, and thick turf is how you get a clean look that actually lasts more than a day.

We offer full-service lawn care in Shorewood, Joliet, Plainfield, Minooka, and Channahon. If your lawn looks rough even after a mow, let’s fix it for real.