When and What Height Should I Mow My Lawn?

Most lawns should be mowed no lower than 1 1/2 inches for warm season grasses like zoysia and up to 3 inches for cool season turf types like bluegrass and fescue. The personal preferences of the homeowner usually determine the exact height selected.

The lawn should be mowed often enough so that no more than 1/3 of the leaf area is removed at one time. For example, a lawn mowed at 1 1/2 inches should be mowed when the clippings will be less than 1/2 inch long.

It is not necessary to remove the clippings at each mowing. Clippings do not contribute to thatch development. Collect the clippings from diseased lawns to help prevent the spread of the disease. Also collect excessively long clippings to prevent them from piling up and shading spots of grass.

Dull mower blades shred the grass blades rather than cut them. The shredded ends will dry out giving the lawn a brownish cast.

Generally it is recommended to wait to mow one day after a lawn treatment is made. This allows the weed control to go to work effectively. Mowing may move fertilizer around slightly, but when bagging the grass, mowers rarely have the ability to suck up the pellets.