If you’re like most homeowners, you’ve got a day of the week permanently scheduled as mowing day for the entire growing season. It’s probably a non-work day, one where you have the most free time. It is great to have a scheduled time for lawn maintenance but take heed – don’t go on autopilot when mowing your lawn!
Every turfgrass has a recommended mowing height range, and it’s not arbitrary! Those parameters are carefully researched to promote the strongest, healthiest stand for that specific grass. Even if your lawn is well-established, you can still see improvements in health and appearance by taking care to comply with those heights.
One easy to remember rule that applies to all varieties is the one-third rule: only remove one-third of the total height of the grass in one mowing event. Removing more than that can make grass vulnerable to injury, especially during high-stress times (drought, high traffic, disease/pest pressure). If your grass needs more removed during each mows, it may be time to reevaluate your mowing schedule and increase mowing frequency. While it may be difficult to find time to mow more often, it beats re-seeding severely damaged areas of turf!