Mowing your lawn
Mow Like a Pro
The principles of lawn mowing are simple
Two rules of lawn mowing
Mow high—Cut the lawn on the highest setting for deep roots and fewer weeds.
1/3 Rule—Only cut 1/3 of the height, never more. This keeps grass healthy and reduces days spent mowing.

Mow High
Mowing higher will help your lawn grasses compete with weeds for sunlight and space, while allowing the roots to grow deeper.
1/3 Rule
The best guideline for mowing is to remove only a third of the height of the grass blade.
- This reduces plant stress and water-loss.
- It also reduces the number of times you need to mow each season if you mow high.
For example, if you mow your grass down to a height of 2 inches, you need to mow each time it reaches 3 inches to follow the one-third rule. If you mow to a height of 4 inches, you wouldn't need to mow the grass until it is 6 inches tall, saving you time and gas. Taller grass is healthier and crowds out weeds.
Mowing Height | Height of grass at mowing (inches) | Length of grass cut off (inches) | Estimated mowing frequency (days) |
---|---|---|---|
2" | 3" | 1" | 5 days |
2.5" | 3.75" | 1.25" | 6.3 days |
3" | 4.5" | 1.5" | 7.5 days |
3.5" | 5.25" | 1.75" | 8.8 days |
4" | 6" | 2" | 10 days |