Lawn Mowing Heights

Considerations In Mowing Heights

The correct lawn mowing heights for lawns is always dependent on the lawn type, as well as the available sunlight to the area. Generally speaking the Warm Season lawn varieties can usually be cut at lower lawn mowing heights, while Cool Season lawns must be cut at higher heights.

Lawn Mowing Heights For Cool Season Lawns

These are general guidelines for mowing heights for lawns in good environmental condition - mow higher in shaded areas.

Lawn Mowing Heights For Warm Season Lawns

These are general guidelines for mowing heights for lawns in good environmental condition - mow higher in shaded areas.

Low Mowing Heights Considerations

Mowing lawns at lower heights is possible as long as a few rules are followed. Lawns will need to be mowed more regularly to keep the lawn trained to keep it's thatch layer, crowns and leaf growing short, and lawns will need full optimum growing conditions also - the more direct sunlight - the lower a lawn can be mowed.

The Importance Of Sunlight on Lawn Mowing Heights

All lawns require direct sunlight to survive, the more sunlight they receive - the healthier lawns become, and the same is true in reverse. The less sunlight a lawn receives - the less healthy it becomes.

When mowing grass in shaded areas, we must increase lawn mowing heights accordingly. A little shade - mow a little higher. A lot of shade - mow a lot higher.

Longer green leaf on grass in the shade allows the lawn to increase it's photosynthesis under reduced light conditions. Whereas if we kept the lawn at a reduced height in shade, the short leaf would be unable to produce enough photosynthesis to keep the lawn healthy, or even alive in many cases.

Mowing Long Grass

If it's been a while between lawn mowings, then it is often not a good idea to reduce the lawn mowing height down to it's preferred height range in a single mowing. Doing so can cut into the thatch layer, turn the lawn brown and put it at risk of long term damage or even death. It is always best in these situations to slowly reduce mowing heights over several lawn mowing services. Read how to safely reduce lawn mowing heights.