How Often Should You Mow Your Lawn?

Mowing your lawn regularly has several benefits for your grass.  

First and foremost, if you use a mulching attachment, it can help maintain consistent nutrients for your grass. When you mow your lawn and leave the clippings spread across it, they break down and provide a natural source of nitrogen, which is essential for healthy grass growth. 

If you’re not sure what type of mower to buy, take a look at our Lawn Mower Buyers Guide.  

Regular mowing also promotes root growth and helps to prevent weeds, pests, and diseases from taking hold in your lawn. Additionally, it helps to create a lush, green lawn that is pleasing to the eye. 

Regardless of which type of lawn you have, it is important not to cut more than one-third of the grass blade at a time. Cutting the grass too short can damage it and leave it vulnerable to outbreaks of pests and disease. 

Buffalo grass is a popular choice for lawns in Australia, thanks to its hardy nature and drought tolerance.  

When it comes to mowing your Buffalo lawn, it is essential to choose the right mowing height. Depending on the variety, mow Buffalo grass to a height of 30-50mm every 7-10 days during the growing season, and less often in the winter months.

Couch grass is a popular choice for sports fields and high-traffic areas, thanks to its durability and fast growth.  

For best results, maintain a mowing height of 10-20mm, depending on the variety. Mow your Couch lawn every 5-7 days during the spring-summer growing season, and less often in winter. 

Kikuyu grass is a warm-season grass popular in many coastal regions of Australia.  

Depending on the variety, mow Kikuyu lawns at a mowing height of 30-50mm every 7-10 days during the spring-summer growing season, and less often in the winter months.

Zoysia grass is a warm-season grass that is becoming increasingly popular in Australia due to its durability and drought tolerance.  

Maintain a mowing height of 20-40mm, depending on the variety, and mow your Zoysia lawn every 7-10 days during the growing season, less often in winter. 

Keeping your lawn looking its best takes more than just choosing the most suitable grass type and mowing it during the right season.  

Other factors can affect how often you should mow your lawn, including: 

• Growth rate: Different grasses grow at different rates, which can be affected by factors such as sunlight, water and temperature. Grass that grows quickly will need to be mowed more often than slow-growing varieties. In general, warm-season grasses such as Buffalo, Couch and Kikuyu tend to grow faster than cool-season grasses such as Fescue and Ryegrass. 
• Rainfall and watering: If you live in an area with high rainfall or water your lawn frequently, you may need to mow more often to keep it looking neat and tidy. Conversely, if you live in an area with low rainfall or don’t water your lawn regularly, you may be able to get away with mowing less frequently. 
• Soil health: The health of your lawn’s soil can also affect how often you should mow. Healthy soil promotes healthy grass growth, which can result in more frequent mowing. However, if your soil is nutrient-poor or compacted, the grass may not grow as quickly, and you may be able to mow less often. 
• Shade: Grass that grows in shaded areas tends to grow more slowly than grass that gets plenty of sunlight. If your lawn is mostly shaded, you may be able to mow less often. 
• Lawn usage: The amount of foot traffic your lawn gets can also affect how often you should mow. If you have children or pets playing on your lawn, you may need to mow more often to keep it looking neat and tidy. Conversely, if your lawn doesn’t get much use, you may be able to stretch out the interval between mowing. 

• Mower blade sharpness: A dull blade can tear the grass instead of cutting it cleanly, which can cause uneven growth and need more frequent mowing. Sharpening your mower blade regularly can help ensure your lawn looks its best with minimal effort. 

There’s more tips to help you keep your lawn in top shape in the Ultimate Turf Maintenance and Lawn Care Guide.