Lawn Care & Mowing Information

HOW HIGH TOCut less than

MOW THE GRASS

1/3

 

Often cutting height is a

Optimal

 

matter of personal prefer-

 

 

cutting point

ence. Typically, you should

 

 

at less than

mow the grass when it is is

 

 

1/3 from top

between three and five

 

 

of grass blade

inches high. The proper

 

 

 

cutting height range for a

 

Cutting down to this

specific lawn will depend

 

upon several factors,

 

area contributes to

including the type of grass,

 

thatch problems

the amount of rainfall, the

 

 

prevailing temperature, and

 

 

the lawn’s overall condition.

 

 

Cutting the grass too short

 

 

causes weak, thin grass

 

 

plants, which are easily

 

 

damaged by dry periods

 

 

and pests. Cutting too short

 

 

is often more damaging

 

 

than allowing the grass to be slightly higher.

 

 

Letting grass grow a bit longer—especially when it is hot and

 

dry—reduces heat build-up, preserves needed moisture and

1/3

protects the grass from heat damage and other problems.

 

 

 

However, allowing grass to grow too high can cause thin turf

 

 

 

and additional problems.

 

 

 

Cutting off too much at one time shocks the plant’s growth

 

 

 

system and weakens the grass plants. A good rule of

 

 

 

thumb is the 1/3 rule: to cut no more than one third of

 

 

 

the grass height, and never more than 1 inch at a time.

 

 

 

The amount of grass you are able to cut in one pass is also

 

 

 

effected by the type of mowing system you are using (for

 

 

 

example, broadcasting with side discharge decks can

 

 

 

 

 

1 inch

process a much larger volume of grass than mulching does).

 

 

 

 

 

NOTE: We cover some specific mowing instructions for

 

 

 

mulching and broadcasting later in this Lawn Care section.

 

 

 

Proper Cutting Height

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cut Here On

Cut

First Pass

Here On

 

Second

 

Pass

 

 

Tall Grass Requires Incremental Cutting

For extremely tall grass, set the cutting height at maximum for the first pass, and then reset it to the desired height and mow a second or third time.

Don’t cover the grass surface with a heavy layer of clippings. Consider using a grass collection system and starting a compost pile.

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