Finding the Right Mowing Height

Written by Amy Gordon (last updated August 19, 2024)

Mowing the lawn can be a huge hassle. While some people may enjoy the work and sweat (along with the smell) of cutting the grass all the time, many people would rather be able to put it off as long as possible. Keeping the lawn mowed will make it look maintained and beautiful, but one of the more difficult parts of mowing the lawn is deciding what setting to put the mower on. It is tempting to just put the mower on the lowest setting, cut the lawn as short as it will go, and be done with it until it again grows too high. If you want a healthy lawn, however, much more effort will need to be made.

Some of the things you have to consider when deciding what height to put the mower blade are weather, foot traffic, amount of sun the grass receives, and the type of grass.

  • If the weather in your area is generally rainy, your grass will be able to be cut shorter than in drier weather.
  • Lawns that receive a lot of foot traffic should be cut longer.
  • Grass in the shade should generally be cut longer than grass in the sun.

These rules are important because they determine how much sun and nutrients the grass receive, and how deep the roots go. For example, grass that is in the shade should be longer so there is more area for the grass to receive sun and process it through photosynthesis.

If you want to take the best care of your lawn, you should research what kind of grass you have and what heights it can tolerate, then follow the guide above to decide where you should cut it. As a general rule, you should never cut below half an inch. Just do not assume that because your grass can withstand the shortest length you should cut it there, because even a small difference in length can make a big difference.

Author Bio

Amy Gordon

Amy Gordon loves keeping things simple, natural, and safe so she can spend more time having fun. Every day she learns new things about making life at home easier and she loves to share it with you! ...

MORE FROM AMY

Use a Cotton Ball and Perfume to Freshen Your Home

Store-bought air fresheners can be expensive. An inexpensive alternative with cheap refills is to use cotton balls in ...

Discover More

Cleaning Messy Candleholders

Candles can often create a mess in whatever you use to hold them. To remove wax from a candleholder, simply leave it in ...

Discover More

Setting Up Gardening Zones

One of the best things you can do for your lawn is to plan what you plant. Make a map of your lawn and the different ...

Discover More
More Gardening Tips

Winter Lawn Preparation

Ensuring yourself a nice, green lawn after a long cold winter is easy when you take the right steps to winterize it. Only ...

Discover More

Lawn Ornaments to Accent Your Home

Ornaments can make your lawn look even better if done properly. Make sure to plan out how to use the ornaments before you ...

Discover More

Getting Rid of Dandelions

Dandelions are one flower that is an eyesore in your lawn. They are extremely difficult to kill off, but you can do it ...

Discover More
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Receive an e-mail several times each week with a featured gardening tip. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is 5 + 3?

There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)


Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Receive an e-mail several times each week with a featured gardening tip. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)