What Height Do You Cut Your Lawn In The Summer? (front yard, weeds)

[Glenn Ross]

Here in Texas I have St. Augustine grass (not by choice, it was here when we bought the place). Around the first of June I will max out my lawn mower and put it on the highest setting. The longer the grass stem during the heat of summer, the better the grass is able to produce the nutrients it needs to survive. Also, as mentioned above, taller grass reduces weeds.

I too mulch my grass and return clippings to the yard. It's been 10 years since I used a fertilizer on my yard and it looks just fine. My neighbor fertilizes twice a year with a chemical and his yard looks only slightly better than mine.

Please do not use weed and feed type fertilizers. They contain atrazine which may kill dandelions, but it also harms trees. I won't go into all the other details, I'll let you do your own research.

[movin2Reston]

I would never recommend anyone using weed and feed type fertilizer. Way too much nitrogen when it is intended to be used..spring time. More importantly most people don't use it properly as the lawn needs to be wet so the particles actually stick to the weeds.

Originally Posted by Glenn Ross

Here in Texas I have St. Augustine grass (not by choice, it was here when we bought the place). Around the first of June I will max out my lawn mower and put it on the highest setting. The longer the grass stem during the heat of summer, the better the grass is able to produce the nutrients it needs to survive. Also, as mentioned above, taller grass reduces weeds.

I too mulch my grass and return clippings to the yard. It's been 10 years since I used a fertilizer on my yard and it looks just fine. My neighbor fertilizes twice a year with a chemical and his yard looks only slightly better than mine.

Please do not use weed and feed type fertilizers. They contain atrazine which may kill dandelions, but it also harms trees. I won't go into all the other details, I'll let you do your own research.

[Cambium]

May 5, 2016.


Mowing the lawn with a sweatshirt today. 48°F(9C). Coldest start to May since the 1980s here. Hasn't warmed past mid 50s yet. Feels like November.


I cant even harden off my plants correctly because there's no sunlight for them to get used to. LOL And it's too cold for them to even start.

At least the lawn is growing like wild.

[movin2Reston]

Even with rain now for about 15 days straight, cutting high at abut 4.5", the lawn looks amazing.

[clutchrider]

Typically I cut 3.5-3.25". However with the last 7 days of straight rain and clouds the grass went nuts so I cut at 4 and made two passes to mulch away any clumps. Gator blades are amazing btw. I have neighbors who go down 2.5" but I think that's too low and makes it more prone to burning and other things. Keeping it a little longer has always been my opinion.

[Cambium]

I forgot to measure again. #2 setting on the mower, that's all I know.

[movin2Reston]

Totally agree. I have one I think that cuts about 2", it looks like a golf course, the weeds just love it.

Originally Posted by clutchrider

Typically I cut 3.5-3.25". However with the last 7 days of straight rain and clouds the grass went nuts so I cut at 4 and made two passes to mulch away any clumps. Gator blades are amazing btw. I have neighbors who go down 2.5" but I think that's too low and makes it more prone to burning and other things. Keeping it a little longer has always been my opinion.

[movin2Reston]

Very good approach which will yield excellent summer results.

Originally Posted by PeachSalsa

My Toro mower has 5 height settings...I set it in either the middle or one more to the longer side. Except for the first mowing of the season, where I had to set it at the highest because it was so long!

I never water my grass. It stays green all summer.

[movin2Reston]

Thank goodness for sunshine today and being able to finally cut the grass after 15 days of clouds and rain.

[DREAMWEAVER6477]

Originally Posted by movin2Reston

What height do you cut your lawn in the Summer?

3 Inches