Here's How Often You Should Actually Be Mowing Your Lawn

Mowing may be time consuming but is a critical part of maintaining a vigorous lawn. Healthy, well-managed grass not only looks better, but is more resilient to drought and other stresses. Proper mowing practices promote lush, dense turf by stimulating shoot and root growth. Lawn mowing encourages lateral shoot growth, resulting in a thicker lawn that is better able to combat weeds. These benefits are impacted by how often you mow the lawn. Mowing at regular intervals based on plant growth makes your ongoing maintenance faster and easier and ensures your lawn remains healthy and vibrant.  

Factors Influencing Mowing Frequency

Ideally, the timing and frequency of lawn mowing should be based on plant growth, not a calendar. The rate at which turfgrasses grow varies considerably based on weather patterns, the time of year, and the species of grass you are growing. Cool- and warm-season grasses have different periods of active growth, with warm season grasses producing more growth in the heat of summer, and cool-season grasses growing more actively during the shoulder seasons. As such, the frequency of mowing for these groups differs throughout the year.

Plant growth can also vary from week to week based upon fluctuations in air and soil temperatures, rainfall and soil moisture levels, sun exposure, and nutrient availability. Like any plant, grass grows more vigorously under favorable conditions. As such, lawns will require more frequent mowing when water and sunlight are readily available. The height at which you maintain your lawn also impacts mowing frequency. These variables make it challenging to establish a regular mowing schedule. Fortunately, there is a simple rule of thumb to help you determine when to mow your lawn. 

General Guidelines For Mowing Frequency

The most successful maintenance schedules use the rule of one-third to time lawn mowing. This rule tells us to never cut more than one-third of the grass height in a single mowing session. When too much of the leaf surface is removed at one time, we reduce the lawn’s capacity for photosynthesis, resulting in weaker top growth and shallower root systems which in turn produce a less resilient lawn. The rule of one-third guides us in maintaining healthy lawns with a well-manicured appearance. 

By following the rule of one-third, the height at which we maintain our lawn impacts how often we need to mow. In general, the shorter you maintain your lawn, the more often you will need to mow. As an example, consider a bermudagrass lawn maintained at a height of one inch. Following the rule of one-third, the lawn would need to be mowed when it reaches 1½ inches to maintain the low profile. To maintain that same lawn at a height of 3 inches, it would not need mowing until it reached 4½ inches in height, which is an extra inch of growth compared to the lower lawn. The interval between mowing would be longer to allow the turf to grow that extra inch.  

The following table lists recommended mowing heights for common turf grasses. Grasses maintained at the taller end of their recommended mowing height typically require mowing every seven to ten days during the active growing season. Lawns maintained at the lower end of the range will require more frequent mowing. In general, taller turf stands tend to be healthier and more resilient to weeds, drought, and other stresses. The lower mowing ranges are commonly used for recreational turf areas that are more intensively managed.

Recommended Mowing Height
Warm-Season Grasses	Spring/Summer	Fall
Bermudagrass	1.5-2.5	1.5-3.0
Buffalograss	1.5-3.0	2.0-3.0
St. Augustine	2.5-4.0	3.0-4.0
Zoysiagrass	1.0-2.5	1.5-3.0
Cool-Season Grasses	Summer	Spring/Fall
Kentucky Bluegrass	2.5-3.5	2.0-2.5
Fine Fescue	2.5-3.0	1.5-2.0
Tall Fescue	2.5-4.0	2.0-2.5
Perennial Ryegrass	1.5-2.5	2.0-2.5

Adjusting Mowing Frequency

In addition to lawn height, weather also impacts mowing frequency. It is important to adjust your mowing practices throughout the season to account for seasonal weather patterns. Spring and fall tend to be rainier and produce more active turf growth. Drier summer conditions will reduce growth and therefore how often you’ll need to mow. Using the rule of one-third makes it easy to accommodate for such fluctuations in plant growth.

During periods of drought, it is helpful to set your mower to the highest recommended level for your turf type. Mowing high encourages deeper rooting and helps to cool soil and conserve soil moisture.

Seasonal Considerations By Turf Type

Mowing practices also vary considerably between cool-season and warm-season grasses. These two groups of turfgrass have significantly different periods of active growth. Cool-season grasses such as fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, and perennial ryegrass are most active during the winter and early spring months and may go dormant during the heat of summer depending on irrigation practices. For cool-season grasses, raise mowing heights to the highest level during the hot summer months. This helps to insulate the plant crowns against high temperatures, reduces evaporation of soil moisture, and promotes deeper root growth.  

Warm-season grasses are dormant in winter and have a flush of growth when spring arrives. Active growth continues through the summer months and into early fall. Warm-season grasses include zoysia, St. Augustine, centipedegrass, Bermudagrass, and buffalograss, as well as native grass bends. These grasses are sensitive to cold winter temperatures. To help insulate their roots against winter chill, raise the mowing height in fall as the growing season winds down.   

Tips For Proper Lawn Mowing

Several simple practices will help improve the appearance of your lawn and encourage healthier turf.

Keep Mower Blades Sharp

One of the most important practices is keeping your mower blades sharp. Dull blades tear the grass rather than cut it. This leaves ragged and bruised leaf tips behind that quickly turn brown and are more susceptible to disease.   

Leave Clipping in Place

Allow grass clippings to remain in place on the lawn when mowing rather than bagging and removing them. When we remove clippings, we remove a valuable source of nutrients that can be returned to the lawn. Leaving clippings in place also saves you time and energy by not bagging.

Don’t Mow Wet Grass

Avoid mowing the lawn when the grass is wet. Damp grass is weighted down, making it harder to get a quality cut. The wet clippings clump together on the mower blades and in the lawn. Wet conditions
also favor the spread of disease organisms. 

Avoid Compaction

Alter your mowing pattern from one week to the next to reduce soil compaction. When possible, make turns on hard surfaces such as driveway, patios, and sidewalks to avoid tearing the grass and creating depressions. When turns must be made in the lawn, make wide, gradual turns to limit wear.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

It is a common misconception that cutting the lawn extremely short saves time by reducing how often we need to mow the lawn. When we cut the lawn too short, we weaken the plants by limiting the leaf area available for photosynthesis. The grass cannot produce the food it needs for healthy roots and shoot growth, leaving plants more vulnerable to drought and heat stress. The weakened plants are more susceptible to insects and disease pests. Mowing low also reduces a lawn’s density, creating the opportunity for weeds to invade.

Often coupled with mowing too short is the practice of waiting too long before mowing. Both practices negate the rule of one-third, exposing lawns to unnecessary stress. Contrary to popular belief, maintaining your lawn at the proper height and only removing one-third the leaf area at a time reduces the frequency of mowing in many landscapes.