How Often to Mow Lawns Through the Seasons

If you have ever tried cutting the lawn in unfavourable conditions you may have found that you achieve an uneven mowing height, get mower blades covered in sticky mulch, or even rip longer grass from the lawn surface – a problem known as scalping. While it is a good idea to cut the grass regularly, it should only be done depending on the weather conditions of the day.

You might also be cutting the lawn too much or too little for the time of year, which is key to a healthy lawn. This is why we have come up with an expert guide on how often to mow a lawn throughout summer, autumn, winter, or spring, which should help result in better lawn care.

The first step is to use a suitable lawn mower, which we offer with top servicing packages from our completely independent company. Browse walk-behind, ride-on, and robotic mowers and buy online. Contact us if you have any questions.

How Often to Mow a Lawn in Summer

In the summer months the growing season has taken full hold, which will cause the grass to grow quite fast. Aside from the need for a greater frequency of mowing during the summer, you will also want a longer cutting height to compensate for any dryness and periods of drought.

Each blade of grass can hold an impressive amount of moisture, which will help to nourish the soil during dry weather and keep earthworms close to the surface, so aiming for a longer length is a smart idea. You can still cut cleanly at length, so aim for a cutting height of about 3-4 inches.

1 to 2 times per week is a good rule of thumb for how often to mow a lawn during the summer months, but this depends slightly on the appearance of the lawn you are maintaining. If you have an intricate or extensively manicured lawn, you may want to cut grass more frequently.

How Often to Mow a Lawn in the Autumn

As the weather begins to get cooler and the foliage falls from the trees you can start mowing a little less frequently. Foliage will break down and provide nutrients for the lawn, but this will take a bit of time and is better left undisturbed. Some dropped seeds are treats for wildlife, too.

Lawn biomes are quite a delicate thing to balance, but growth is still good in the early autumn so there is no need to avoid cutting a lawn entirely. Rotary mowers have a lower cutting height, so require less frequent use, while cylinder mowers cut higher, so should be used more often.

Once per week should be ideal for most traditional garden lawns, but you could skip a week or two each month with no harm. You can start mowing a bit less frequently to avoid cutting the grass too short once growth starts to slow as winter weather sets in and the temperatures drop.

How Often to Mow a Lawn During Winter

Winter can cause severe changes in weather conditions, including wet and cold nights and quite dry days when the sun is out. As a result, the soil gets hard and retains a lot of moisture so avoiding cutting the lawn when it is too wet is the primary concern. Never, ever mow grass wet!

You should also avoid cutting when the ground is frozen, or you will risk scalping it, and remove all twigs or debris before doing so. Always cut the grass higher in the winter. Winter is also a good time to put fertiliser on the lawn to tide it over during the season’s low-nutrient conditions.

There is no set number for how often to mow in winter; just do so as you need. You may not have to mow much at all aside from at the beginning and end of the season. You should collect the grass clippings as they cause fungus or disease if they are left to remain wet on a lawn surface.

How Often to Mow a Lawn in the Spring

Spring is the time to make time for your first proper cut of the year and create the conditions for optimal growth of healthy blades of grass. You will probably not need to cut the lawn until some weeks after April, when the growing season begins in full and a lawn responds best to cutting.

As the growing season progresses you will find that the lawn reacts to cutting by growing back fuller and thicker. You can encourage a nice-looking lawn at this time by cutting it at quite a high height more frequently, keeping it longer but more manageable before summer arrives.

There is no need to rush into the first cut, but once you begin you should keep it regular and average once per week. The most important thing is to use the highest cut setting on your mower and then gradually reduce it as you move through the summer and into autumn.

Mistakes to Avoid When Cutting the Lawn at any Time of Year

The number one rule all year round is to avoid cutting the lawn when it is wet. Apart from that, try to keep the following in mind whatever the season for the best results when you cut grass:

• Do not mow too frequently, or you will risk scalping your lawn
• Remove clippings during wet weather to avoid the chances of lawn damage
• Service your lawn mower or garden machinery regularly, to avoid blunting the blades
• Mow slowly and evenly while mowing to maintain a uniform cutting height
• Start mowing at a different end of the lawn each time you cut the grass

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