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How Low Should You Mow a Yard

Determine how often you mow your grass not by the calendar, but by the rate the grass grows. Seasonal fluctuations in temperature and rainfall will change your mowing schedule. More importantly, when you do mow your grass, cut it to the proper height for the variety. Mowing too low weakens the grass, causing the lawn to grow thin. It can also encourage weeds to take up residence. Mowing too low also makes your lawn more susceptible to pests. Mowing too high makes the turf ragged and unattractive, encouraging the buildup of thatch. It can also stress the grass when it finally is cut, as a too-large portion of the individual blades is necessarily shorn off.

  1. 1 Inch or Lower

    • Bentgrass, a cool-season grass, should be mowed lower than 1 inch; increase the mowing height by 1/2 inch during the summer months. Warm-season grasses, like hybrid Bermuda grass and zoysia grass do best when kept at a height of 1 inch or lower.

    1 to 2 Inches

    • Buffalo grass, Kikuyu grass, common Burmudag rass and St. Augustine grass, all grasses suitable for growing in warm climates, should be mowed to a height between 1 and 2 inches. During the summer months, mow them at the highest end of their preferred height range.

    Over 2 Inches

    • Cool-season grasses should always be mowed to a higher level than warm-season grasses. Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue and perennial ryegrass -- the most popular cool-season grasses -- greatly benefit from being kept at a height of just over 2 inches, but not more than 3 inches. The cool-season grasses benefit the most from being mowed slightly higher during the summer months, as they are more suited to cooler weather.

    Mowing Tips

    • Set your mower 1/2 to 1 inch higher during the hot summer months, as grass this long will shade the roots and the lawn won't turn brown as fast. Keep your mower sharp, ideally sharpening it after each mowing. A dull mower shreds the tips of the blades, causing an increase in moisture loss through the jagged cuts. Grass recovers faster when cleanly cut with a sharp blade. Never cut off more than one-third of the height of the grass, as it leaves the lawn more susceptible to weed growth, pests and diseases.

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Lawn Basics
  1. How to Convert a Gravel Yard to a Grass Yard
  2. How Often Should You Mow Fescue?
  3. Should I Mow My Lawn Short?
  4. How to Grow Low Grass
  5. How Should You Go About Planting Grass Seed?
  6. How Often Should You Fertilize the Average Home Lawn?
  7. How Tall Should I Mow My Tall Fescue Lawn?
  8. How to Mow Lines in Your Yard
  9. How to Mow Floratam Grass
  10. How Often Should You Water Floratam Grass?
  11. How Much Should I Rake My Yard?
  12. How Low Should I Burn Pampas Grass?

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