Mowing Heights and Schedule Guide

Mowing is the most frequent thing you do to your lawn, and small changes make a big difference. Cut too short, and you scalp the grass, expose soil to heat and invite weeds. Cut too tall, and the lawn can look shaggy and mat down. Each grass has a sweet spot. Tall fescue and bluegrass do best at three to four inches, especially in summer, while bermuda and zoysia are happier at one to two inches. The one-third rule says never to remove more than a third of the blade at once.

Schedule matters, too. In peak growth, weekly mowing is typical, while slow seasons call for every other week. Sharp blades make a clean cut, and changing the mowing pattern each time prevents ruts and leaning grass. Leaving clippings on the lawn returns nutrients. If you let the grass get too tall, bring it down in stages. A good mowing routine is one of the most affordable and effective lawn treatments there is.

Best for

• Homeowners who mow themselves
• Owners hiring a mowing service
• Anyone with thin or weedy turf
• New lawns learning their first cut