Mowing the lawn is one of the classic chores associated with owning your own home. But how often should you mow your lawn? Is there an ideal way to space out your sessions cutting the grass? Read on to find out.
Factors That Affect Mowing Frequency
Time Isn’t That Relevant
If you’re looking for a simple answer to how often to cut grass, you’re out of luck. There’s no general rule of thumb like “once a month” or “every other week.”
How often grass needs to be cut varies depending on several different factors, including:
- Type of grass
- Amount of rain
- Amount of sun
- Use of fertilizer and mulching
- Use of sprinklers and irrigation
- Weeds, bugs, and other stressors
- Other soil conditions, including pH balance
Unfortunately, these factors can change week-to-week and season-to-season. For instance, some summers can be hot and dry, while others are wet with frequent showers. Cutting habits will also be different between the summer and the cold Milwaukee winters.
Because of the many variables, you might only be able to go a few days without cutting or you could go several months between cuts. Regardless of the weather, however, remember:
- Don’t feel tempted to cut just because it’s been a while since your last day outside with the mower. Cutting when you don’t need to can actually damage your lawn.
- Don’t mow the lawn based on time. Only cut when the grass needs it.
Length Matters
Rather than cutting based on a set schedule, you should pay attention to the length and overall health of your grass.
In many ways, mowing the lawn is an art, not a science. Your personal preference for length will be a major factor in choosing when to cut. This is why most homeowners can tell with the naked eye when their lawn is getting a bit too tall for their liking.
Don’t Cut Too Low
If you’re cutting based on when the grass gets too tall, it might make sense to cut the grass very low so you can go further between mowing sessions. However, this is not recommended.
Cutting grass too low puts dangerous stress on your lawn. For example, cutting the grass short during a hot, sunny summer can remove necessary shade from the roots, causing them to dry out. Shortcuts can result in yellowed and dying grass.
Golf courses tend to have very short grass, but these courses are given great care and daily maintenance. Do not try to replicate this on your own lawn unless you have a specific type of grass and take special preparations.
As a rule of thumb, never cut more than 1/3 of the length of the blade of grass. This will keep the grass healthier and looking its greenest.
Know Your Grass
Several types of grass are used for Milwaukee lawns. These different grasses can look best at different lengths. This is why knowing what grass you have can help you cut your lawn correctly.
Check out this guide for the ideal height ranges for popular grass types.
So, How Often Should You Mow Your Lawn?
Unfortunately, there’s no easy answer to how often should you mow your lawn. Due to many factors, the way grass grows is never truly consistent. Your best bet is to monitor your grass length and mow when it’s about one-third taller than you wish it to be.
For more insight into proper lawn care, check out our blog. And, if you find that you don’t have the time or patience to maintain your lawn yourself, give us a call. We offer year-round landscaping services in Milwaukee and Waukesha!
