One of the most important steps in maintaining your lawn is knowing when and how to cut your grass. However, most homeowners find themselves at crossroads of How Often Should Grass Be Mowed, because there are several options.
Truth be told, when it comes to mowing, there is no definitive frequency for cutting your grass. The frequency of cutting your grass is also highly dependent on
- the time of the year
- where you live
- your taste and preference
Before coming up with a routine, you may also want to go over some important factors that influence that will influence the growth of grass such as heat, water, and the amount of nutrients present in your yard’s soil. These variables will determine the growth speed of your lawn.
You should also consider the max height you want to allow your grass to grow. With all of this in mind, it is up to you to discuss it with your lawn care provider to figure out how often your yard will need to be mowed. It bares taking note that each individual’s lawn care plan will look different, just as unique as each yard is.
Most people start mowing during Spring before the grass really starts growing fast. This way, they can get rid of the dead tips in order to give their lawn a fresh start for the season.
In most cases, we would suggest a bi-weekly mowing routine, however, there are times when weekly and monthly options can be the best choice. In the following text, we will dig a little deeper into the most common mowing routines so that you can be best informed about all of the options you have to choose from.
Lawn Maintenance & Mowing Service Options
Weekly Mowing
Weekly mowing is not a very popular choice because it can put a strain on your lawn’s health. It’s best to note that your lawn is made up of different grass plants – this means frequently cutting grass can cause stress on the overall health of your lawn. On the other hand, cutting grass weekly helps lower your stress by keeping your lawn’s length under control. This may be especially helpful if you live in a cul-de-sac, sub-division or other area where you grass can not be over a certain height, weekly mowing may help you stay ontop of this limitation.
A weekly routine means cutting a smaller grass height at a time; this way, you can maintain the grass plant’s height. If you do choose to go with a weekly mowing schedule, we encourage you to cut a maximum of one-third from the tip of the grass blade in order to avoid causing trauma to the plant. Cutting more than that causes the grass to turn yellow from the strain caused by stress cutting.
As stated before, there are different factors to consider when choosing a mowing routine – these include the time of the year, environmental factors, fertilization schedules, and the health of the lawn. In this case, weekly mowing works best during warm months & during increased rainfall, or after fertilizer is applied. During these times, the grass grows very fast and needs frequent cutting.
Bi-Weekly Mow
By our experience, most people prefer bi-weekly mowing routines over other options. We have identified a few distinct reasons why this is.
First of all, cutting grass every two weeks is arguably the most affordable option for homeowners. This is because you won’t have to be paying for lawn care maintenance servicing every week & good lawn care providers should give you a discounted rate for bi-weekly services.
It’s also an excellent way of maintaining the height of your lawn and removing weeds without causing too much stress on your lawn. Cutting grass every two weeks has a nice ring to it, however, it does come with its own set of disadvantages also.
For instance, it provides enough time for weeds to grow, which could affect the health of your lawn. These weeds can also provide a habitat for insects that can be difficult to manage once they are established.
Grass cuttings are a good source of nutrients for your lawn but can be a menace when there are too much. Mowing after two weeks means the grass will have grown to a substantial height. As a result, the cuttings left behind after mowing can suffocate the growing grass and restrict sunlight which in turn may lead to poor grass health.
Keep in mind also that cutting grass after two weeks cab put you at risk of cutting the stolon where the moisture is stored. This damages the green leafy part of the grass to leave you with a longer recovery process. Nevertheless, when properly done, you can avoid dealing with too much trauma on your lawn while saving a few extra coins on lawn maintenance.
The best part about this approach is ensuring a uniform cut while maintaining greener-looking grass. When choosing a biweekly approach, you should consider double cutting your grass; this way, you can prevent clumping while obtaining the best results.
Monthly Lawn Maintenace
Mowing once a month may sound like an ideal option, especially because you think that you can save some money, however, this maintenance plan comes with its own set of advantages & disadvantages.
The biggest and probably the most clear disadvantage to having your lawn mowed once a month is that the height of your grass can get out of control. Once it gets past about 6 inches it becomes very burdening for any lawn mower to cut, even commercial mowers.
This means that you will have to have your grass bush hogged which can be way more expensive than any mowing plan because it is a specialized procedure that uses specialized equipment.
In addition, the longer your grass stays high, the more insects you attract. Some insects like bees, are beneficial to the environment, especially if you have a flower garden nearby. They’re really great for flowers such as the white clover and daisies in bloom.
But at the same time tall grass will provide a home for unwanted guests like other animals and insects you don’t want around your yard. Mother animals like deer, like to hide their babies in tall grass which can attract predators such as coyotes that put you, your family, and pets in danger.
Certain animals can cause extra damage to your home as well by tearing out siding, insulation, breaking windows and more causing you to spend more money in the long run on repairs, trying to get rid of them, and the list goes on and on.
Overgrown grass is quite difficult to deal with, and in some cases, you may have to plant a fresh batch after cutting grass. This is because grass can grow mold or get smothered when too much length is cut off at once.
The grass cuttings accumulate on the freshly cut grass, blocking sunlight and oxygen, in turn stunting your lawn’s growth. Cutting grass once a month also provides room for weeds to invade, making it difficult to maintain the health of your lawn.
(Click Here To Learn More About How Often You Should Cut Your Grass On YouTube)
A Couple Mowing Tips
Before we close out this discussion, we wanted to leave you with some extra lawn care tips. After you have considered the variables related to your grass, you need to create an action plan in order to help you get the best result.
Ultimately, we highly recommend you get on a bi-weekly lawn care maintenance schedule. This way, you can save while maintaining the beauty & health of your grass. Below are a few mowing tips you should consider:
- Don’t mow when the grass is wet: This way, you can avoid damaging the grass and the mower.
- Don’t mow the lawn too short: The recommended height is one-third from the trip of the grass blade to prevent exposure to environmental elements.
- Don’t let your grass grow too high: Once the grass reaches 6cm, get to work and trim it down.
- Maintain your mower to ensure it operates efficiently.
I hope that this information has helped you understand more about what you need to know and do in order to keep your yard looking and being its best. As always, never be afraid to get professional help, recommendations, or advice if you are not sure of what to do or simply need a little guidance.
We at United Family Lawn Care Services are always happy to help you no matter where you are in the world. Please feel free to drop your questions in the comments or if you have value to add, go ahead and chime in. We love to hear from yah!
From our family to yours have a safe a happy week and weekend ahead of you 🙂
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Just to let you know, we also service the following areas for mowing, gutter cleaning, bush hogging, aeration & more!