Picking the best mowing height for your lawn

Author: Adam Fitzhenry   Date Posted:30 March 2021 

Mow all about it - find out how to determine what the ideal mowing height is for your lawn!

Picking the best mowing height for your lawn

The correct mowing height is key to maintaining a healthy lawn. And the ideal lawn mowing height of your lawn depends on the grass variety, age of the lawn and the season.

So, how do you pick the best mowing height for your lawn? When your lawn is young and still establishing itself, you need to mow it on a higher setting so it doesn’t get stressed.

The season is key

It’s also important to keep your lawn longer throughout the cooler months to prevent weeds and to keep it looking lush. As the weather warms up and growing season is upon us, you can gradually mow it lower until it reaches optimal lawn height.

The one-third rule

The best way to gradually lower the grass height is by following the one-third rule i.e. the mower height should only be lowered by one-third of the grass blade each time you mow, until it reaches optimal lawn height.

Keep your lawn mower in good condition

It’s also essential that you keep your mower blades sharp so it’s not tearing the grass blades as opposed to slicing them. Grass that is mowed with dull blades can result in the leaf being exposed to fungal diseases.

What is the best height to mow your lawn – what grass variety?

The biggest tip is to mow at the right height for your grass variety. For cool season grasses such as Tall Fescue, Fine Fescue, Kentucky Bluegrass and Ryegrass, 25mm to 100mm is ideal.

For warm climate varieties such as Buffalo, Zoysia, Couch and Kikuyu, 10mm to 75mm is the perfect length. But this is only a guide, as you need to take into account the mower type used i.e. a rotary or cylinder mower.

The best way to know is simply experiment – take a third of your grass blade each time you mow (within the range suggested for your lawn type above) until you get the perfect length.

Frequency

You will also need to take frequency into account, and this depends on the environmental conditions impacting the growth of your lawn and not a set mowing schedule.

For example, periods of sustained rainfall will require more frequent mowing, whereas dryer conditions will result in less regularity between mowings. Different grass varieties also grow at different speeds.

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