By Kelly Miller
Lawn mowing is one of the most important tasks in managing a home landscape. So, it’s worth taking the time to learn how to mow a lawn and develop a smart mowing strategy. A good starting point is to remember these three guidelines:
- Mow high: don’t cut the grass too short.
- Mow dry: don’t mow wet grass.
- Mow sharp: maintain sharp mower blades.
Now, let’s get into the details of these key considerations and how they contribute to safe, efficient mowing that supports healthy grass growth.
When to Start Mowing in Spring
In spring, mow for the first time when the grass is actively growing and at least 3” (7 cm) tall.
There’s a growing movement that originated in Europe, known as “No Mow May,” that encourages homeowners to delay mowing until later in the year. This reduces disturbance of insects in the soil and gives flowering plants such as dandelions the chance to provide food for pollinators.
Waiting to mow is eco-friendly and a time-saver, but don’t overdo the delay. Cutting severely overgrown grass is bad for both the lawn and the mower.
In most US regions, waiting till June to mow isn’t realistic. However, you can achieve the goals of “No Mow May” by delaying your first mowing till mid-April (or whenever is right for your particular lawn) and mowing less often throughout the spring.
Lawn Mowing Frequency and Timing
Ideal mowing frequency depends on grass type and weather, but weekly mowing is usually appropriate. You can mow a lawn more often in the middle of summer when grass is growing more rapidly.
Follow the 1/3 rule. To avoid stressing the grass, don’t mow more than 1/3 of your lawn’s height. For example, if your mowing height is 4” (10 cm), then you should mow before the grass gets taller than 6” (15 cm).
The best times to mow a lawn are in the morning and late afternoon. In hot summer weather, mid-afternoon mowing can stress grass. In mild weather, timing is less important.
Mow when the lawn is dry. Wet grass can clog a mower and strain the engine. Wet mowing can also result in torn grass, uneven cuts, and the spread of fungal diseases.
Mowing Height
Mowing grass to a very short height is appealing if you want a tidy, professional aesthetic. Mowing short also seems to offer the benefit of extending the time between mowings. However, there are good reasons not to mow too short, including:
- Mowing short causes grass to redirect its energy toward recovering its height, rather than developing deep, strong roots.
- Taller, deep-rooted grass is more drought-tolerant and weed-resistant.
- Short mowing may create bare spots and lead to the spread of weeds.
For most turf grass lawns, a mowing height of 3–3.5” (7–9 cm) is best for maintaining healthy, attractive grass. For a lower-maintenance lawn that requires less watering and mowing, mow slightly higher. Mowing higher is also beneficial in mid-summer to help the grass tolerate the stress caused by drying winds and intense heat.
Note that different grasses have different ideal mowing heights. Identify what type of grass you have and learn more about the specific requirements of your variety.
Blade Sharpness
Blade sharpness is a commonly overlooked aspect of proper lawn mowing. While a sharp mower blade makes clean slices, a dull blade tears grass apart and bruises the soil.
To maintain their effectiveness, sharpen blades after around 20 hours of use. For most homeowners, that’s once or twice per year.
Sharpening a blade involves removing it from the mower, cleaning it, and working on it with a file, grinder, or other tool. Learn how in this guide from HGTV.
Choosing a Mowing Pattern
If you mow a lawn on a regular basis, you’ve probably tried out different patterns and wondered if you’re missing out on some other, better method. Following is a list of the most common options for mowing patterns:
Side-by-side stripes: mowing stripes from one side of the lawn to the other.
Spiral: mow the entire perimeter, then repeat that route, spiraling inward to the center of the lawn.
Diagonals: go from corner to opposite corner, then progress outward in one direction, then the other.
Spiraling is the most efficient route, although you’ll end up needing extra passes to complete the center of the lawn. Meanwhile, diagonals create a snazzy aesthetic. You can even achieve the look of a baseball diamond by performing double diagonals (mowing in diagonals twice, in alternating directions).
When it comes to patterns, the key is variety—don’t always mow the same route.
If you always mow the same way, then you’re always hitting the same parts of the lawn with extra passes and turns. Over time, this causes damaged grass and soil compaction. If you vary your patterns, then the wear and tear caused by mowing will be distributed evenly across the lawn.
What to Do with Grass Clippings
Some mowers have bag attachments that collect grass clippings. However, it’s usually best to detach the bag and let the clippings fall onto the lawn. Grass clippings are full of nutrients and water that can be “recycled” as mulch that enriches the soil and improves lawn health.
Whenever grass is dry and the 1/3 rule is followed, there’s no need to remove clippings. However, if the grass is wet or if you’re mowing off more length than usual, then it may be necessary to bag the clippings, mow over them a second time, or rake them up. This prevents wet or long clippings from forming clumps or mats that could smother new grass growth.
When you collect bagged or raked clippings, you can compost them or reuse them as garden mulch.
When reusing grass clippings, remember these conditions:
- If your lawn was recently treated with chemicals, don’t reuse the clippings.
- Only use dry clippings as mulch.
- Fresh grass clippings are a “green” (nitrogen-rich) compost input, and should be balanced with an input of “brown” (carbon-rich) material.
Safe Mowing
Always remember that a lawnmower is a powerful and dangerous machine. In the US, around 84,000 individuals seek emergency medical treatment every year for mowing-related injuries. Mowing safety includes:
- Wear long pants, closed shoes, and ear and eye protection.
- Start the mower on level ground.
- Don’t mow slopes steeper than 20 degrees with a push mower or 15 degrees with a riding mower.
- Mow across slopes, not up and down.
- Before you mow a lawn, walk through the yard, checking for debris or objects that need to be removed. Monitor for wildlife, too, especially slow-moving animals like turtles or baby birds.
- Take extra precautions if children are around. Before letting a youth operate a mower, ride on a mower, or play around a mower, make sure that they understand the hazards.
Turfgrass Isn’t Your Only Option
If you aren’t crazy about mowing, remember that turf grass isn’t your only option for lawn coverage. Converting part of your lawn to alternative groundcover, especially native plants, is a great way to reduce water use while providing food and shelter for pollinators. Learn more in our guides on native groundcover plants and mini meadows.
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