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Mowing Lawns the Right Way
Cutting the lawn is basically pruning your grass. Like any other type of pruning, mowing lawns correctly is essential for the health of your lawn. Using your lawn mower properly increases the density of the lawn, which decreases weeds. Different types of grass have recommended mowing heights, which you'll find listed at the end of this article.
Here are answers to common questions and recommendations for mowing lawns to help keep your grass healthy and looking its best:
How Often Should You Mow Your Lawn?
In most climates, mowing once every one to two weeks is common. However, there are a few things to keep in mind when determining how frequently to trim grass, including overall grass health and the seasonal conditions where you live. For example, if a warm season lawn has gone dormant due to heat and drought, mowing can damage the grass. And, if you live in an area with mild springs, you’ll likely mow more often at the beginning of the season.
Make sure you keep to a reliable mowing schedule. If you get off schedule and the grass gets too long, cutting the grass will be harder and more stressful to the lawn.
When to Mow the Grass
Mow when the lawn is dry. Wet grass doesn’t stand upright and you won’t get a good cut. Wet grass also clogs a lawn mower and clumps on the lawn. Mowing when the soil is wet leads to visible ruts in your lawn, particularly if you use a riding or zero turn mower. If you’re cutting grass with an electric mower, moisture is a safety hazard and can damage the battery.
As long as the grass is dry, mowing mid-morning, between 8am and 10am, is a good idea. The temperatures won’t be at their highest and the grass blades have some time to heal a bit before evening. If cutting the grass in the morning isn’t practical, late afternoon can also be a good option. Avoid mowing in the hottest part of the day. You risk overheating yourself and creating extra stress on the grass.
How Long Does Lawn Mowing Take?
The time necessary for mowing a lawn depends on how large the yard is and your mower type. For example, mowing lawns an acre in size typically takes about 40 minutes with a riding mower, but cutting grass in the same lawn might take over an hour and a half with a standard walk-behind mower.
What Are the Different Types of Lawn Mowers?
To make mowing lawns as easy and efficient as possible, match your lawn mower to your lawn and your mowing habits. There are several lawn mower options to consider:
- Standard push mower or walk-behind mowers are very common. The mower handles cutting grass, but you provide the power to move the mower. These are good options for smaller yards.
- Self-propelled push mowers have a drive system that keeps the mower moving, relieving you of much of the effort. These make mowing lawns much easier, particularly if you have a 1/2 acre or larger lawn or hilly ground. Get more tips on selecting a standard or self-propelled push mower in our guide, Lawn Care 101: Choosing the Best Lawn Mower for Your Needs.
- Riding mowers or lawn tractors are great options for large lawns, taking nearly all of the exertion out of mowing lawns.
- Zero-turn mowers are riding mowers with exceptional maneuverability. These mowers are good choices for large lawns with obstacles and for large lawns you want to mow quickly. See Everything You Need to Know Before Buying a Riding Lawn Mower to learn how a standard or zero-turn riding mower can help you take on cutting grass in large lawns.
Push mowers and riding mowers are available in both gas-powered and battery-powered models. See our guide, What Can You Do With an Electric Mower, to see if a cordless mower is right for your lawn.
- Reel mowers or manual mowers typically rely entirely on you for both rotating the blades and for moving the mower. These are best for small lawns. See our how-to, Reel Mowers: How to Use and Maintain a Manual Mower, to learn if a reel mower is right for you.
- Robotic mowers follow boundaries and schedules you set up. Once these settings are in place, there’s very little you have to do to keep your lawn in shape. You can find models that work for a variety of lawn sizes. See our guide, Robotic vs. Traditional: The Benefits of Robotic Mowers, to find out if mowing lawns with a robotic mower is right for you.
Mow moving forward, whether you're using a push lawn mower or a riding lawn mower.
General Tips for Mowing Lawns
These tips will help you keep your yard in tip-top shape:
- Keep mower blades sharp and balanced. Ragged cuts made by dull blades increase the chances of disease and pests.
- Change the mowing pattern each time you mow. For example, if you mow in rows down the length of your yard one week, mow across the width the next week or try curves or a circular pattern. Grass develops a grain based on your cutting direction, tending to lean towards the direction you mow. Alternating your mowing pattern causes upright growth and prevents ruts from growing in the lawn.
- Whichever mowing pattern you choose, offset your wheels a bit from the previous pass. This helps reduce ruts and helps ensure you don’t miss a strip of grass.
- In most cases, if you don’t mulch or bag clippings, you should discharge the clippings toward the area you've already cut. However, it’s a good idea to avoid discharging them into a neighbor’s yard.
- Leave lawn clippings on the grass when you mow the lawn unless they form clumps or rows. Leaving the clippings in place returns nutrients and nitrogen to the lawn.
- Consider using a mulching lawn mower or mulching kit on your current mower.
- If you bag your clippings, consider composting them with a composter.
- Mow your grass higher in shaded areas under trees. In these areas, grass competes with tree roots for water and nutrients.
- Reduce mowing frequency and raise the mowing height of cool-season grasses when hot, dry weather slows their growth rate.
- Follow the proper lawn fertilizer schedule for your type of grass.
- Preseason and postseason mower maintenance prolongs the life of your mowing machines and produces a better-looking lawn. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for proper maintenance. See How to Maintain a Push Mower and How to Maintain and Winterize a Riding Lawn Mower to get an idea of good maintenance practices.
What is the best mowing pattern for riding mowers? There’s no set pattern that works best for every yard. And, as with any mower, the key is to vary the pattern to avoid ruts, especially given the weight of riding mowers and the size of their tires. Also note that riding mowers discharge clippings further than push mowers, so plan on patterns that keep the clippings out of the yard next door.
Mowing New Grass
Allow newly seeded grass three to four weeks to get established after germination before you mow it for the first time. The grass blades are tender and easily damaged and the foot traffic and mower wheels will compact the soil, especially if it's moist. Mow when the new grass is 3/4 of an inch to 1 inch taller than its recommended regular mowing height.
Lawn Mowing Safety Tips
Learn how to operate your mower before you take it to the lawn. Read the manual and get familiar with mower operation and safety features. Learning how to mow the lawn with a riding mower or zero-turn mower might take some practice if you’ve only used a push mower in the past. We’ve got tips on how to mow the lawn with a riding mower to get you started cutting grass with a standard riding mower.
Always follow your lawn mower manufacturer's operating, maintenance and safety instructions. Here are some general safety practices for mowing a lawn:
- Clear debris from the area you'll be mowing.
- Keep children, pets and others away from the mowing area.
- Don’t start a gas mower in a garage, shed or other enclosed area.
- Don't remove or alter discharge chutes or any other safety attachments on your lawn mower.
- Wear appropriate clothing and closed-toe footwear as well as safety glasses, hearing protection and any other safety gear specified by the mower manufacturer, such as work gloves.
- Protect yourself from the summer heat while working outdoors.
- Don't refuel a hot engine.
- Keep hands and feet away from moving parts.
- Follow your specific mower manufacturer's instructions for mowing on slopes.
- If you use a riding lawn mower, don't carry passengers.
- If your mower is equipped with a key, remove it when the mower isn't in use.
- Before performing any maintenance, cleaning or inspections on your lawn mower, turn it off and remove the ignition/safety key (if equipped). On a gasoline-powered mower, unplug the spark plug wire(s) as instructed in the manual. If you have an electric mower, disconnect it from its power supply. Make sure all blades and moving parts have come to a stop. Follow any pre-maintenance procedures the manufacturer specifies.
Grass Mowing Height Recommendations
These are basic guidelines for mowing heights. Keep weather conditions (heat, cold, drought) in mind whenever you mow.
Mowing Height for Cool-Season Grasses
- Bentgrass: 1/2 to 1 inch
- Fescue: 3 to 3-1/2 inches
- Tall Fescue: 3 to 4 inches
- Kentucky Bluegrass: 2 to 2-1/2 inches
- Perennial Ryegrass: 2 to 3 inches
Mowing Height for Warm-Season Grasses
- Bahia: 2 to 2-1/2 inches
- Bermuda: 1-1/2 to 2 inches
- Centipede: 1-1/2 to 2 inches
- St. Augustine: 2 to 3 inches
- Zoysia: 1-1/2 to 2 inches