What happens if I cut my grass too short?

If you cut your grass too short, the sun's heat can damage the blades and weaken the roots, preventing them from growing deeper for a healthier lawn.

Can I mow my lawn more than once per week?

You can mow your lawn more than once a week if you have received a lot of rain or fertilized your lawn. The trick is waiting until the grass is dry before mowing. Otherwise, stick to the seven to 10-day rule.

Should I mulch my grass clippings?

Grass clippings can be good mulch sometimes with a few considerations. Don't use them as mulch if you recently treated your lawn with herbicides for dandelions or other broadleaf weeds. Only use 1 to 2 inches of dry grass clippings as mulch. Wet grass can become matted and cause problems in your garden.

Gardening Landscaping Lawn Care

How Often Should You Mow Your Lawn?

By

Barbara Gillette

Updated on 03/27/24

Reviewed by

Andrew Hughes

Tip

Mowing is most efficient when the grass is dry, has grown to no more than 50 percent of its previous height, and the mower blades are sharp.

Types of Turf

Some turf varieties grow better when cut higher while others prefer to remain a little closer to the soil. Knowing when your turf is actively growing will help you determine how often you need to mow to maintain the best height for a uniform lawn. Ideal heights for some common types of grasses grown in the United States are as follows:

Ideal Mowing Height for Common Grasses
Fescue	2-3 inches
Bluegrass	2-2 1/2 inches
Ryegrass	1-2 inches
Bermuda grass	1-1 1/2 inches
Zoysia	3/4 - 1 inch
St.Augustine	2-3 inches
Buffalo grass	1-2 inches

Cool-Season Grasses

Fescues, bluegrass, and ryegrasses are cool-season grasses that vigorously grow during spring and fall. They need to be cut more often when there are higher rainfall amounts. Mowing on the high side of the optimum height for your grass type during spring months helps choke out broadleaf weeds. Growth slows during hot summer months and mowing can become less frequent.

Warm-Season Grasses

Warm-season grasses are found in southern and southwestern states that have hot summers and mild winters. Zoysia, St. Augustine, Bermuda grass, and buffalo grasses grow most during the heat of summer but don't overwinter as well as cool-season grasses. These grasses require more frequent mowing when there's abundant, daily rainfall.

Shade Grasses

Most grasses do best with plenty of sun exposure but there are special mixes for shady areas. Cool-season grasses fare better in shady areas. Mow grass in a shaded area on the high side and less frequently. Consider planting a perennial flower bed or moss lawn under a tree canopy to cut down on the amount of lawn in shady spaces.

New Lawn

A new lawn should be mowed just as often as an established lawn once it grows actively. Mowing too soon can damage the new tender leaves, however, it is perfectly fine to begin cutting new grass once it has exceeded the optimum height for its type. That may mean you will need to wait about two months before mowing a newly seeded lawn.

In addition, wait about two to three weeks or more before mowing newly laid sod to allow the roots to become established.

The 1/3 Rule

Mowing your lawn too low when it's actively growing can damage the stems and cause the grass to die. When the blades flower, it means new leaves are emerging and roots are spreading. At this point, raise your mower cutting height to remove no more than 1/3 to 1/2 of the new leaves. Cutting the grass below optimum height restricts root development, leading to weed infestation, disease, and damage from heat and drought.

Mowing Long Grass

If the grass grows too tall above the recommended height, mow more often, taking only 1/3 of the new growth at a time. It may take several passes, with a few days in between to allow the turf to recover before you can return the lawn to its ideal growing height.

For example, a lawn of tall fescue should be kept to a height of 2 to 3 inches. If it's 5 inches tall, mow one time to take off 2 inches of top growth. Wait several days, then mow again to remove the extra inch.

Tip

Mowing actually injures grass because it removes the youngest most active leaves. Keep mower blades sharp to mitigate the damage. Sharpen your blades two to three times a year.

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Mowing in Wet Weather

Even if you are on a mowing schedule, always wait until your grass is dry before mowing. Here's why:

A wet lawn can cause you to slip.
Wet and clumpy grass clippings can clog your mower.
Your mower wheels can cause deep grooves in the wet soil.
Wet grass becomes heavy and may droop. The mower will tear off and damage the grass's blades.

When to Mow After Fertilizing

Wait at least one or two days after fertilizing a new lawn or feeding an established lawn before mowing it. You'll need to give the fertilizer time to absorb into the soil. Mowing the lawn too soon will interfere with the fertilizing process.

How to Manage Grass Clippings

During peak growth, mowing can leave behind unsightly windrows or piles of wet clippings on your lawn surface. Mowing more frequently will help avoid this problem but creating too many clippings will shade and weaken the remaining grass because it will have fewer active leaves. Short clippings will filter down between the remaining leaves and quickly decompose.

Trim your lawn when the grass has grown to about 30 percent to 50 percent above the height to which it was previously mowed. For example, if your turf is maintained at a 2-inch height, mow again when it reaches 3 inches.

FAQ

What happens if I cut my grass too short?

If you cut your grass too short, the sun's heat can damage the blades and weaken the roots, preventing them from growing deeper for a healthier lawn.
Can I mow my lawn more than once per week?

You can mow your lawn more than once a week if you have received a lot of rain or fertilized your lawn. The trick is waiting until the grass is dry before mowing. Otherwise, stick to the seven to 10-day rule.
Should I mulch my grass clippings?

Grass clippings can be good mulch sometimes with a few considerations. Don't use them as mulch if you recently treated your lawn with herbicides for dandelions or other broadleaf weeds. Only use 1 to 2 inches of dry grass clippings as mulch. Wet grass can become matted and cause problems in your garden.

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