Mowing Tips and Recommendations for Yards

How To Mow Your Lawn

If your goal is a thick, beautiful lawn that blocks out weeds and stands strong against disease. Mow tall and mow often. Spend time maintaining and mowing properly and you’ll spend less time fixing the issues that come along with taking shortcuts.

How To Mow Your Lawn

The ideal mowing height for most lawns is between 3.5 to 4 inches. The benefits of mowing tall are numerous. Roots will grow deeper, improving drought tolerance. Tall turf provides better shade for the root system, conserving water, and blocking the growth of unwanted weeds. A longer grass blade provides more area for your lawn’s critical process of photosynthesis.
Maintaining a proper frequency will help ensure that no more than 1/3 of the total grass blade is removed at one time. This is referred to as the One-Third Rule. Cutting off more than 1/3 of the overall blade causes stress on the plant and weakens your lawn’s defenses. Mowing correctly and maintaining the One-Third Rule will also save you from needing to bag your lawn clippings which is a great source of nutrients for your lawn.
Mowing with a sharp blade ensures a clean cut. Grass with ragged edges from a dull cut is more susceptible to disease and water loss. Sharpen your mower blades often. Preferable at least once in the spring and once in the fall.

Switch It Up

Switch up your direction with each cutting to encourage grass blades to stand straight. To minimize extra turns and backtracking, mow your lawn in rows.

Safety First

Before you mow, take a walk through the yard to collect debris that may be thrown by the blade. These objects could be propelled causing serious bodily injury to you or anyone nearby (objects may also damage your mower or dull the mowing blade).

Stay Cool

Choose the coolest time of day possible (morning or evening) to minimize heat stress for both you and your turf.

Stay Dry

Mowing wet grass can get messy, but it also poses some soil and safety concerns as well. Don’t risk slipping on wet turf with the mower running. Additionally, the weight of the mower can cause soil compaction when it’s soggy, and wet grass is more resistant to the mower blade. The best bet is to allow the turf to dry sufficiently before you begin mowing.

Learn More about the One-Third Rule from Cale Bigelow, Professor of Agronomy in the Turf Science Program at Purdue University. Get a Quote Today

Switch It Up

Commonly Asked Questions

Mowing with a sharp blade ensures a clean cut. Grass with ragged edges from a dull cut is more susceptible to disease and water loss. Sharpen your mower blades often. Preferable at least once in the spring and once in the fall.
Switch up your direction with each cutting to encourage grass blades to stand straight. To minimize extra turns and backtracking, mow your lawn in rows.
Choose the coolest time of day possible (morning or evening) to minimize heat stress for both you and your turf.
Mowing wet grass can get messy, but it also poses some soil and safety concerns as well. Don’t risk slipping on wet turf with the mower running. Additionally, the weight of the mower can cause soil compaction when it’s soggy, and wet grass is more resistant to the mower blade. The best bet is to allow the turf to dry sufficiently before you begin mowing.

Need additional help? The experts at Lawn Pride are here to answer all your questions. Call us today.

Our Special Offers

We understand your goal to keep your lawn looking its best. We take pride in your lawn because we know you do, too. Check out our special offers to see how you can save on your next lawn care application.

75% Off First Application + 2 Surface Insecticide Treatments Included

Limit One. Not valid with any other offer. Valid only at participating locations. Locally owned and independently operated franchise companies. Other restrictions may apply. ©2025 Dwyer Franchising LLC. 1010 N. University Parks Dr., Waco, TX 76707. For additional terms, visit: neighborly.com/terms-of-use

Expires: 09/30/2025
CLAIM OFFER
5% Senior Citzen Discount

Offer available to new customers who enroll in a multi-treatment program with automatic payment. Minimum number of treatments required may vary by location. Pricing and service availability are based on lawn size and geographic area. Limit One. No Cash Value. Not valid with any other offer. Valid only at participating locations. Locally owned and independently operated franchise companies. Other restrictions may apply. For additional terms, visit: neighborly.com/terms-of-use
Expires: 09/30/2025
PRINT OFFER
5% Military Discount

Offer available to new customers who enroll in a multi-treatment program with automatic payment. Minimum number of treatments required may vary by location. Pricing and service availability are based on lawn size and geographic area. Limit One. No Cash Value. Not valid with any other offer. Valid only at participating locations. Locally owned and independently operated franchise companies. Other restrictions may apply. For additional terms, visit: neighborly.com/terms-of-use

Expires: 09/30/2025
PRINT OFFER
$25 OFF

Offer available to new customers who enroll in a multi-treatment program with automatic payment. Minimum number of treatments required may vary by location. Pricing and service availability are based on lawn size and geographic area. Limit One. No Cash Value. Not valid with any other offer. Valid only at participating locations. Locally owned and independently operated franchise companies. Other restrictions may apply. For additional terms, visit: neighborly.com/terms-of-use
Expires: 12/31/2025
PRINT OFFER