How Often Should You Cut Your Grass?

The One-Third Rule

The most important guideline for mowing frequency is that you should never remove more than one-third (31​) of the grass blade’s total height in a single cut.

This rule prevents major stress to the grass plant. When too much leaf surface is removed, the plant goes into shock, using all its stored energy reserves to quickly replace the missing blades instead of focusing on deep root growth. This weakens the turf, making it susceptible to disease, drought, and weeds.

Example Application:

• If your target mowing height is 3 inches, your grass should not be taller than 4.5 inches before you cut it. (The amount you remove is 1.5 inches, which is 31​ of 4.5 inches).
• If your target height is 4 inches, your grass should not be taller than 6 inches before you cut it. (The amount you remove is 2 inches, which is 31​ of 6 inches).

Mowing Frequency by Season

The actual frequency (how many days between cuts) changes dramatically throughout the year because grass growth is entirely dependent on temperature, moisture, and fertilizer availability.

Season	Grass Growth Rate	Recommended Frequency
Peak Season (Late Spring/Early Summer)	Very High	Every 4−5 Days
Mid-Season (Late Summer/Early Fall)	Moderate	Every 7 Days
Drought/Dormancy (Mid-Summer Heat or Winter)	Very Low/None	As Needed (May be every 10−14 days or stop entirely)

Best Practices for Healthy Mowing

1. Maintain Proper Height: Always set your mower to a high setting (usually 3−4 inches for most residential turf). Taller grass shades the soil, keeps the roots cooler, requires less water, and naturally crowds out weeds.
2. Leave the Clippings: Unless the clippings are extremely long and clumpy, leave them on the lawn. This practice, called "grasscycling," returns valuable nutrients and moisture back to the soil, acting as a natural, free fertilizer.
3. Use Sharp Blades: Dull mower blades tear and shred the grass rather than making a clean cut. Torn grass tips turn brown quickly, leaving the lawn looking frayed and vulnerable to disease. Sharpen blades at least once or twice per season.
4. Change Directions: Vary your mowing pattern each time you cut the lawn. Mowing in the same direction repeatedly causes the grass blades to lean one way and can create ruts in the turf.