How Often Should You Mow Your Lawn?

If you have a backyard, it’s a good idea to learn how to always keep it clean and beautiful. Check our article and learn how often to mow lawn!

Did you know there was such a thing as over mowing a lawn? If you’ve noticed how yellowy it becomes and how short it is, you’re scalping it. For most people, mowing the lawn is not a pleasant endeavor, so knowing how often to mow your lawn helps you avoid scalping or neglecting it too long.

Mowing your lawn is an essential part of keeping the grass healthy and your home looking great at all times. A neat lawn is not only aesthetically appealing. It makes a great place to picnic, kids, and pets to play on it, and for those tasty summer barbecues. There are many benefits of a well-kept lawn, but it requires constant care and upkeep.

If you’re wondering how often to mow the lawn, we bring you this comprehensive guide that covers how often you should cut grass, the best time to do it, and what rules you should follow.

Factors That Determine How Often to Mow Your Lawn

In general, it’s safe to mow the lawn twice a month to keep it healthy and appealing in warm weather, and once a month in cold weather. However, this may vary depending on the type of grass you have, among other factors. These factors include:

The Type of Grass

There are several different types of grass, all of which grow at a different rate. There are warm-season and cool-season grasses. If you have warm-season grass, then you’ll need to mow it more often during the warm seasons, and this applies to cool-season grass as well. As a rule of thumb, allow the grass to grow about ⅓ higher than the recommended height.

• Bermuda grass ¾ to 1 ½ inches
• Hybrid Bermuda ½ to 1 inch
• Kentucky bluegrass 1 ¾ to 2 ½
• Centipede grass 1 to 2 inches
• Buffalo grass 2 to 3 inches
• Blue grama grass 2 to 3 inches
• Bentgrass ¼ to 1 inch
• Bahiagrass 2 to 3 inches
• St. Augustine grass 1 ½ to 2 ½
• Fescue tall grass 2 to 3 inches
• Fescue fine grass 1 ½ to 2 ½ inches
• Zoysia grass 1 to 2 inches
• Perennial ryegrass 1 ½ inches
• Annual ryegrass 1 ½ to 2 inches grass

The Time of Year

Apart from the type of grass you have, the rate at which it grows could be affected by the time of year and the climate you live in. The time of year will determine how often to mow lawn because grass grows faster in warm weather. Some areas experience high temperatures throughout the years than others, and if you live in a warmer climate, you may have to cut your grass more often than those living in colder climates.

The Height of the Lawn

It’s essential to know the height of your lawn before you start mowing it. If it’s too short, you may diminish the root system and its ability to absorb water and nutrients. This leads to unhealthy and discolored grass, which will look unsightly. If you wait for it to grow too long, however, your lawn will look unkempt, the roots will grow thicker, and weeds will thrive.

In general, you should wait until your warm-season grass grows to 2 inches in height, and cool-season grass to 3 or 3 ½ inches tall. Factors in your type of grass while determining the ideal height, though.

Follow the One Third Rule

The ⅓ rule usually applies to overgrown grass because, in such a case, most people are tempted to mow all the grass at once. This is not a very good idea because the grass gets shocked and becomes brown. Once too much of the grass blades are cut too abruptly, all the essential nutrients go with it, malnourishing the grass in the process and leading to discoloration.

Beyond that, the lower part of the grass becomes weather-beaten. You see, when the grass is tall, the blades provide shade for the base, and once you cut those blades, you expose the base to direct sunlight.

This causes sunburn. When you cut tall grass, it’s advisable to leave the clipping on the lawn, so they shade the grass, provide it with nitrogen, and eventually disintegrate and provide it with nutrients. To keep your grass healthy, follow the ⅓ rule for a few weeks until you get the desired size.

Rate of Growth

The faster the grass grows, the more often you need to mow. If you take pride in maintaining your lawn and fertilize it more often, especially using nitrogen fertilizers, then you may have to mow more often. Also, if you water your grass often, even in summer months, your grass will grow faster, needing an often mow.

Amount of Sunlight Available

If your lawn is shielded from the sun by trees or property, it will not grow as rapidly as grass directly exposed to sunlight, which means less mowing. If some parts are exposed to direct sun while others are shades, then those parts will grow longer and require frequent mowing. If this feels like too much trouble, you can always contact professional lawn care services for all your needs.

Best Time of Day to Mow the Lawn

Mowing the lawn in the morning is not very ideal. Wet grass gets stuck in the mower, and mowing in the middle of the day could mean too much heat. So what’s the best time of day keeping in mind that the time could affect the grass as well?

The ideal time is mid-morning between 8AM and 10AM or late afternoon between 4pm and 5PM. During mid-morning, the dew has already dried off the grass, and temperatures are low enough to enjoy it. The late afternoon is just as great because you’ll escape the heat and protect your grass from turf stress. 

Keep These Mowing Tips in Mind

There you have it! Now you know how often to mow your lawn and what factors to consider depending on your type of grass. Cutting grass at the ideal height ensures that you maintain a plush, and bright green grass at all times. It’s also good for your lawn if you mow at the right time of day.

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