For us proud lawn owners, we’ll spend the most time maintaining our lawn by mowing it. It’s essential to keep the look of a well-manicured lawn, with neatly-trimmed and cleared-out grass. However, this raises the question – how often should you mow the lawn?
Your mowing schedule will depend on what season it is. In spring, it will depend on the rains, while in summer you can mow every 2 weeks. Grass goes dormant from autumn to winter, so you can push your trimming schedule to 2–5 weeks.
Ready? It’s time to break out the mower and get trimming!
How Often to Mow Your Lawn Per Season in Australia
It’s time to put your best lawn mower to use and mow your lawn! Keeping a regular mowing schedule will make your lawn healthier and lusher – and make it the envy of all your neighbours.
How often should you mow in spring?
The answer depends on how much rain and sun your lawn gets. Keep an eye out on your turf growth and mow when it starts to get unruly.
How often should you mow in summer?
During the growing season, you should mow your lawn every 2 weeks. Be mindful of too-frequent mowing, though, since this could result in patchy grass. Then you’ll need to repair it using grass seed.
How often should you mow in autumn?
Grass growth starts slowing down in autumn, so you can get away with mowing every 2–4 weeks.
How often should you mow in winter?
During the cooler months, you won’t need to mow as often since your lawn will be dormant. Just like autumn, you can get away with mowing every 2–5 weeks in the winter.
How Often to Mow a New Lawn?
It’s essential that you don’t mow a newly-growing lawn too soon; otherwise, you’ll damage the fresh, tender grass blades. Wait until the new turf has grown past the ideal height for the grass type, then you can begin mowing according to season.
When to Mow Your Lawn
The ideal time to mow a lawn is during mid-morning, since the dew will have evaporated but the heat isn’t too strong.
Mowing Different Kinds of Grass
There are many kinds of lawn grass available, and common types are split according to their growing season.
Cool-season grasses include tall fescue and bluegrass. These grow more in spring and autumn when there’s more rain, so you’ll mow more frequently during these months. Growth slows in the summer, so you’ll be mowing less often during hotter months.
Warm-season grasses include buffalo grass, zoysia, and St. Augustine. These are most active during warmer months such as summer. Keep an eye on the grass height from late spring to early autumn so you know when to pull out the lawn mower.
How High to Mow a Lawn
While many of us prefer to keep a short lawn, it’s essential to cut the grass blades at the right height. The general rule is to mow about one-third of the existing growth – if you mow more than one-third, you may damage the roots or prevent healthy growth.
Maintaining taller grass also prevents weeds from invading your lawn, since it’ll prevent the sun from reaching any undergrowth. If you’re uncertain, set your mower height on the higher side and let your grass grow taller before mowing again.
Alternatively, leave the work to expert lawn mowers – they’ll get the job done right every time.
Benefits of a Regular Mowing Schedule
Regular trimming promotes a healthy lawn, since it encourages new growth and benefits the roots. It also ensures your whole lawn receives equal (or almost-equal) amounts of light, water, and nutrients, which will result in more even growth.
Keeping your lawn properly mowed lets it recover better from pests, severe weather, and diseases or fungi. A regular trim could even prevent infestations from happening.
Lawn Mowing Tips
For clean-cut grass, keep your mower blades sharp and in good condition. Dull blades will crush grass instead of cutting it, and could damage both your mower and your lawn.
If you’re able, save your lawn clippings for mulch and compost. You can add grass clippings to a compost pit, or simply layer the clippings over garden beds and leave them to decompose.
If the ground is uneven, you may want to consider levelling your lawn. This makes it easier to use a lawn mower and makes grass growth more even.
Knowing how often should you mow the lawn helps keep it healthy, lush, and well-maintained. Take care of it properly and it’ll quickly become your pride and joy – and a statement for your home.
