By Agronomist Aaron Shehan – Burleson Lawn Care

Mowing might seem simple—but most of the lawn problems I see around Burleson start with the mower. Too tall, too infrequent, or uneven cutting can turn a great lawn into a stressed-out mess.

If you want better color, density, drought tolerance, and fewer disease problems, start by mowing at the right height.

✅ Recommended Mowing Heights by Grass 

⚠️ What Happens When You Mow Too Tall

One of the most common mistakes I see is mowing grass too tall, especially Bermuda. Homeowners think it helps with drought, but the opposite is true.

Problems caused by mowing too tall:

• Increased stem growth and reduced green blade growth
• Thatch buildup and that “fluffy” texture that never greens up
• Less drought recovery and more water usage
• Weaker color and density
• Increased risk of Bipolaris and other turf diseases

Hybrid Bermuda especially suffers when it’s mowed above 1.5”. You’ll see more scalping, less color, and slower recovery.

📅 How Often Should You Mow?

The more often you mow, the better your lawn will look—especially in the growing season. A good goal is:

• Every 5–7 days during peak growth (April–September)
• Every 10–14 days in early spring and fall
• Never remove more than 1/3 of the blade at once

 Waiting too long and cutting too much at once causes yellowing, browning, and stress on the turf.

🧰 Mowing Setup Tips

To get the best results:

• Keep blades sharp. Dull blades shred grass and leave brown tips.
• Make sure your deck is level—uneven decks scalp one side and leave the other too tall.
• Don’t rely on your mower’s inch markings—measure the actual cutting height.
• Change mowing direction regularly to avoid ruts and compaction.
• Bag only if necessary (like after a long rain delay). Otherwise, mulch and return nutrients to the soil.

🔁 Spring Scalping & Power Raking

Every spring, your grass comes out of dormancy covered in dead material from winter. Here’s what I recommend by grass type:

• Bermuda: scalp down to 1.0” in March (remove dead top growth and warm up the soil)
• Zoysia: scalp thin-bladed varieties only; mow wide-blade types short but don’t scalp
• St. Augustine: never scalp. Power rake or verticut to remove winter dieback and debris instead

This step is crucial for a clean green-up and reducing spring disease pressure.

🧠 Final Word

Most lawn issues I diagnose in Burleson—whether it’s disease, color problems, or weak growth—come back to mowing height and frequency.

If your lawn isn’t where you want it to be, don’t just throw down more fertilizer or water. Start by checking your mowing height.

📞 Need professional help or want us to evaluate your mowing practices?

Call 1-800-LAWNCARE or visit BurlesonLawnCare.com to schedule a consultation with a real agronomist—no guesswork.