Mowing grass accomplishes more than just keeping your lawn neat: it also keeps it healthy. You won’t have to cut your grass as often during the dormant season as you do during the active growing season, but this timing varies by the type of grass in your lawn. Keeping your grass at an optimal height and ensuring you don’t remove too much at once are the keys to maintaining a healthy, green lawn.
When to Mow
Grass needs mowing most during the growing season. For warm-season grasses, this is the summer; cool-season grasses grow in the spring and fall instead. Leave the grass clippings on the lawn — as long as they’re not wet and heavy — to fertilize your lawn. These clippings can contain as much as 3 to 4 percent nitrogen and 2.5 to 3.5 percent potassium.
Frequency of Mowing
The rate of grass growth and desired height of your lawn determine how often you need to mow. Typically, mowing once a week during the growing season should suffice to keep your lawn healthy. The rest of the time, you can reduce the frequency of cutting to every other week, as necessary.