The Ultimate Guide to Lawn Mowing

The lawn mowing season has well and truly begun! Mowing your lawn has a significant impact not only on its appearance but also on its health.
In this blog, we’ve compiled lawn mowing best practices, including mowing heights for different lawn types and best times of the day to do it.

How Often Should I Mow My Lawn?

Maintaining the correct mowing height is essential for a healthy and good-looking lawn. The answer to this frequently asked question is: IT DEPENDS!

The height at which you mow your lawn is influenced by several factors, including:

Sun Exposure: Lawns in full sun typically need shorter cuts than those in partial or full shade.
Traffic: Areas with heavy foot traffic require regular mowing to help improve your lawn’s wear tolerance.
Climate: Whether you’re in a cooler (in Adelaide, the hills from example) or a warmer (coastal area) region, this will affect how and when you should mow.
Soil Temperature: As soil temperatures warm in spring, grass begins to grow more quickly, while cooler temperatures in autumn slow growth.

Monitoring soil temperature and local weather conditions is key to knowing when to adjust your mowing height.

Queensland Blue Couch (Santa Anna & Nullarbor Couch)

Queensland Blue Couch, including varieties like Santa Anna Couch and Nullarbor Couch, thrives in full sun. During the growing season—typically from early spring to mid/late-autumn—it can be mowed very short, even to about 5mm, especially if you’re using a cylinder mower. As the soil temperature warms, mowing height should be kept low until about a third of the way through autumn, after which you should raise the blades slightly. These varieties go dormant in cooler weather, so mowing can be reduced or paused during the colder months.

Sir Grange Zoysia

Sir Grange Zoysia (often used in golf courses) can be mowed short or left uncut in certain areas, such as the rough or on slopes. While it’s a versatile grass, it tends to get thick and thatchy if left untrimmed, which may lead to maintenance issues. The mowing height can be adjusted depending on whether it’s being used for aesthetic purposes or more practical applications.

Buffalo Grass

Buffalo grass mowing practices depend on the conditions of your lawn. In full sun areas, it can be mowed to around 30mm. However, as Buffalo can go dormant during cooler weather, it’s important to raise the mower blades to a higher notch by the end of March. The exact timing for this adjustment depends on soil temperature and your specific location—whether you’re in a cooler or a warmer region. In more shaded conditions or areas with heavier traffic, it’s best to mow slightly higher, though regular mowing is still important to help strengthen the lawn.

Finer Grasses: Fescue, Kentucky Blue, and Carpet Grass

Finer grasses like Fescue, Kentucky Blue, and Carpet Grass should be mowed regularly throughout the year. During the summer, allow the grass to grow a bit longer to provide shade to the roots and help retain moisture. In winter, cut slightly shorter to allow the grass to dry out.

Tiftuf Bermuda

Tiftuf, a type of couch, requires more frequent mowing, especially during its growing season. For the best results, aim to mow it down to about 5mm during the warmer months. This variety of grass can grow well into late autumn and may even continue growing slowly during winter, except in frosty conditions. Around mid-autumn, raise the mower blades one notch to adjust for the cooler weather. Tiftuf thrives with regular weekly lawn mowing, which helps to prevent thatch build-up and promotes a healthier lawn overall.

Kikuyu Grass

Kikuyu grass grows actively during the growing season, which is typically from spring through to late autumn, although this can vary depending on your location (unless there is a frost). Noonan Kikuyu will grow year-round, while Eureka Male Sterile Kikuyu goes dormant like other couch varieties. At the start of spring, we recommend cutting it as short as the mower will take it, gradually reducing the height over a few mows, but never removing more than a third of the leaf in any single cut. Once you’ve reached the desired height, lift the mower blade to 5-10mm and keep it short during spring, summer, and early autumn, adjusting the notch slightly higher as needed. Regular weekly mowing and removing the clippings during the growing season helps minimize thatch build-up. If you have high-traffic areas, it’s best to keep the grass a bit longer to aid in recovery from wear and tear.

As a standard recommendation, warm-season grasses should be mowed weekly during the growing season, and as needed or to remove weed growth while dormant.
Another standard recommendation is to mow often enough so that no more than one-third of the grass blade is removed with each cut. This reduces stress on the lawn and helps prevent scalping.

Maintain Sharp Mower Blades

Proper mower maintenance is crucial, and sharp blades are key to achieving a clean, even cut. Dull blades don’t slice through grass properly—they tear it, which can result in an uneven, stressed lawn. A well-maintained set of sharp blades will not only improve the appearance of your lawn after mowing but also keep it healthier overall.
If your blades have cracks, bends, are excessively thin, or have holes, it’s time for a replacement. If they’re still in good condition but need attention, a proper sharpening should do the trick.

Prevent Cross-Contamination

If your lawn mower was used on a different lawn variety (for example, if you have multiple lawn types on your property or if you lent your mower to a neighbour), we strongly recommend cleaning it thoroughly before using it on your own lawn. This helps prevent the spread of pests or diseases between different grass varieties.
This is particularly necessary if Kikuyu lawn is involved as it is quite invasive and can spread very easily.

 

Maintain a Steady Pace

To achieve a consistent cut, maintain a steady pace while lawn mowing. Changing speeds during the mowing process can result in an uneven cut and inconsistencies in grass height.

Don’t Let Your Clippings Build Up

While occasionally leaving clippings on the lawn is acceptable for those who maintain their lawns meticulously, we generally don’t recommend it. Using a catcher on your mower helps prevent weed seeds from returning to the lawn and stops leaves and runners from accumulating in the thatch layer, which can lead to thicker, spongier grass.

Mow in Different Directions

To encourage a thicker, denser lawn, try mowing in different directions. This promotes vertical grass growth, gives each blade room to spread, and helps new growth thrive.

Reel or Rotary?

While rotary mowers with sharp blades and sufficient power provide a clean cut, reel mowers (especially cylinder mowers) deliver a cleaner, more precise cut thanks to their scissor-like action. This action is superior to that of the chopping action of a rotary mower, when comparing both with sharp well-maintained blades.

Wait Until the Lawn Is Dry Before Mowing

Mowing wet grass can damage the blades, causing them to tear rather than cut. This leaves an uneven edge and can make your lawn look less tidy. The lawn can also drag under the mower when damp and not get a cut at all, leading to uneven growth once dry. Make sure your grass is dry before mowing.

Avoid Mowing When It’s Hottest

Mowing during the hottest part of the day can stress your lawn. It’s best to mow early in the morning or later in the evening when temperatures are cooler.

Mow Your Lawn Regularly

Regular mowing (even if you’re barely taking any leaf off) encourages lateral growth and allows more sunlight to reach the grass blades, contributing to a healthier lawn overall.

Dealing with Uneven Surfaces

If your lawn has uneven surfaces, achieving a smooth cut can be challenging. Topdressing is an effective solution to this problem, and now is the best time to do it! We recommend Akers Top Dressing Mix, perfect for small lawn renovations.

As usual, if you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to contact us – we’re here to help.