How Short Should I Cut My Grass?
Let's Start by Asking 'What Kind of Grass?'
The type of grass makes a difference in what height you start cutting and what height you cut it to. In our area, most homeowners have Bermuda, Saint Augustine, or Centipede, all of which require the same cutting heights for a healthy yard.
As you can see by our chart, 2 to 2.5 inches are the best heights to cut to. Yet so many homeowners cut much shorter, and maybe you're one of them. If you are, let's talk about what you need to know before cutting your grass shorter than 2 to 2.5 inches in height.
| Grass Type | Height to Mow At | How High to Cut |
| Tall Fescue | 4-6 in. | 3-4 in. |
| Fine Fescue | 4-6 in. | 3-4 in. |
| Kentucky Bluegrass | 4-6 in. | 3-4 in. |
| Perennial Ryegrass | 4-6 in. | 3-4 in. |
| Bermuda Grass | 3-4 in. | 2-2 ½ in. |
| St. Augustine Grass | 3-4 in. | 2-2 ½ in. |
| Centipede Grass | 3-4 in. | 2-2 ½ in. |
| Zoysia Grass | 3-4 in. | 2-2 ½ in. |
Those Short, Perfect Rows...
We all love a perfectly rowed yard, especially when it is bright green and nice a flat and short. But is that really what's best?
As it happens, cutting your grass too short might look good but it can damage your yard. Think about it: grass blades grow to create more surface area to absorb sunshine and undergo photosynthesis. If you're cutting it very short, you're eliminating this surface area (as well as the area in which water and cellulose can be stored) and are hurting the health of your grass. That's why yards that are cut very short require a lot more care and a lot more fertilizer. Your too-short grass is trying not to die and requires fertilizers to offset the damage caused by being butchered a bit too much.
Overgrown Lawns... Can I Knock Them Way Down?
It isn't just about the final height you leave your grass, it is also about how much you cut it down. If your grass is overgrown you want to be careful not to cut too much too fast or you might kill it off. As a general rule of thumb, don't reduce your grass' height by more than 1/3 in any one cut or you could wind up with nothing left at all.
Overgrown Lawns... Can I Knock Them Way Down?
It isn't just about the final height you leave your grass, it is also about how much you cut it down. If your grass is overgrown you want to be careful not to cut too much too fast or you might kill it off. As a general rule of thumb, don't reduce your grass' height by more than 1/3 in any one cut or you could wind up with nothing left at all.
Unsure What to Do?
Don't worry if you're unsure of your grass type or how best to care for it. You can make sure your yard is well taken care of by calling the experts at Surfside Lawn Care. We'll assess your yard and provide competitive pricing on how best we can assist with keeping it healthy and looking beautiful.