A Grass-by-Grass Guide for Spring and Summer!
In spring and summer, most lawns in Sydney need mowing every 5-10 days. Couch, Kikuyu and TifTuf grow fastest and suit weekly mowing. Buffalo can usually go 7-10 days. Whatever the grass, never remove more than one-third of the leaf height in one cut.
Once October warms up, lawns go from barely growing to racing away in a few weeks. Mowing too rarely leads to scalping when you finally catch up. Mowing too less stresses the grass going into summer. Getting height and frequency right for your grass type is the cheapest way to a better lawn.
What is The One-Third Rule?
Never cut off more than a third of the grass blade at once. If you want your lawn at 30mm, mow when it reaches about 45mm. Taking more than a third shocks the grass, exposes brown stems and opens gaps for weeds.
How High and How Often Should I Mow My Grass Type?
Use this as a general guide for spring and summer in full sun:
Buffalo Grass (Sir Walter)
Mowing height, full sun: 30-50mm
Mowing height, part shade: 50-70mm
Frequency in peak growth: Every 7-10 days
Couch Grass
Mowing height, full sun: 15-30mm
Mowing height, part shade: Not suited to shade
Frequency in peak growth: Every 5-7 days
Kikuyu Grass
Mowing height, full sun: 30-50mm
Mowing height, part shade: Not suited to shade
Frequency in peak growth: Every 5-7 days
TifTuf Bermuda Grass
Mowing height, full sun: 15-30mm
Mowing height, part shade: Raise height in light shade
Frequency in peak growth: Every 5-7 days
Not sure what you’ve got? Buffalo has broad, soft leaves. Couch and TifTuf are fine-leaved. Kikuyu has thick, fast-spreading runners and lighter green leaves.
Should I Mow Higher in Summer?
Yes, raise the height a notch during heatwaves and dry spells. Longer leaves shade the soil, hold moisture and protect roots. This matters most in hot Western Sydney and inland Hunter suburbs.
Do Mower Blades Really Matter?
They do. Blunt blades tear grass rather than cutting it, leaving ragged, whitish tips that brown off and invite disease. Sharpen or replace blades at the start of spring and check them mid-summer.
Should I Catch or Mulch My Clippings?
If you’re mowing regularly and only taking off a little, mulching clippings returns nutrients to the soil. Catch clippings when the grass is long, wet, or weeds are seeding.
Find Mowing Hard to Keep Up With?
Green and Home offers regular garden maintenance plans with lawn mowing and edging included across Sydney, The Central Cost and Newcastle. Call (02) 9555 5365 to set up a spring and summer schedule.