Frequency of Mowing

On each mowing, remove no more than one-third of the grass blade.

If you set your lawn mower to cut grass at 1 inch, it should be cut again when the grass reaches 1 ½ inches. This means that you will remove one third of the blade per lawn mowing. Mowing more frequently will not cause any harm so long as your lawn mower and blades are in good condition.

To slow down the growth of your lawn, you can raise the height at which you cut it. For example, by setting your lawn mower to cut grass at 1½ inches tall, you must mow before the grass gets to about 2¼ inches tall. This may require you to mow every 7 to 10 days depending on temperature and water availability. Never leave your lawn uncut for more than two weeks. If you have a lawn service that comes every two weeks, ask them to raise the mowing height so that you stay as close to the one-third rule as possible.

In the summer, you won’t need to cut the grass much if it’s very dry because there will be little growth. However, don’t go over two weeks between cuts. Some weed grasses will grow or spread rapidly if mowing is neglected.