Setting the right lawn mower cut height will help ensure you always get the best cut. But how do you choose the right lawn mower height setting in the first place? As you’ll soon discover, different scenarios call for different lawn mower height settings. Factors like grass type, weather, and time of year affect your mower’s height settings. Let’s go over the different height settings and figure out how to choose the right one for your yard.
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Is There a Standard Lawn Mower Height Setting?
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to lawn mower cutting heights. This is because different grasses require different cutting heights. Also, additional factors such as weather, grass conditions, and lawn mower weight affect how high the lawn should be cut. Determining the right lawn mower height setting requires factoring in all of these conditions.
Why is Choosing the Correct Mower Height Setting Important
If you try to take the short route and just set your lawn mower height to one height and stick with it all year round, then you’ll likely end up damaging your lawn or overworking your lawnmower. One form of damage that using the wrong height setting can cause is lawn scarification. This is when the grass is cut too short and gets scalped. On the other hand, if you set the mower too high, then your grass will be at a length that is too long for it to grow properly. Additionally, if your lawn gets very long, your lawnmower could get bogged down if set to a cutting height that is too low. So when it comes to maintaining a healthy lawn and lawnmower, setting the right lawn mower cut height to factor in different scenarios is super important.
What do the Lawn Mower Height Numbers Mean?
If you find setting your lawn mower cutting height overwhelming because you don’t understand what all the numbers mean, then I’ve got you covered. First, the numbers don’t indicate the actual height from the ground. That would make it simple. Instead, they indicate the different levels you can set your mower’s height. The most accurate way to know the actual height each number represents is to do a series of cutting tests.
Set your mower to the highest number and mow a small strip. Then, grab a tape measure and measure from the soil to the tip of the blade. Write this number down somewhere handy for future reference. Repeat this test with all the settings to figure out how high each setting cuts. Now you have an easy guide to help you know what the lawn mower height numbers mean so you can always be setting the right lawn mower cut height for each scenario.
6 Tips for Choosing the Right Lawn Mower Height Setting
Now it’s time to choose the right lawn mower height setting for your yard. Again, this isn’t going to be a one-size-fits-all approach. You still have some things to work out to determine the best height setting for your specific grass and environmental conditions. I’ve come up with six tips for choosing the right lawn mower height setting all year long.
Use the Right Cutting Height Settings for Your Grass Type
There are thousands of different grass types worldwide, and over one thousand are found here in the United States. Each grass type has different requirements, such as sunlight conditions, temperatures, irrigation needs, and, of course, cutting heights. So, just like you wouldn’t plant grass that requires full sun in the shade, you don’t want to cut it to the wrong height. So, research the right setting for the right lawn mower cut height for your grass type and set your lawn mower height accordingly.
Adjust the Cutting Height Settings for Different Seasons & Weather
As the seasons change and temperatures rise and drop, your grass goes into various stages of growth and dormancy. You guessed it; you’ll have to change your height setting accordingly. In the summer, most grasses do better when mowed longer and more frequently. However, when the grass is dormant in the winter months, it prefers to be cut shorter and less frequently.
Choose the Right Height Setting for Varying Grass Conditions
Your grass’s health also affects your lawn mower’s height settings. For example, if you have a new lawn with roots that aren’t fully established, then cutting your grass too short will draw energy from the growing roots to the blades. This is also the case if your established lawn isn’t too healthy. Other factors to keep in mind are things like grass growing in the shade vs. full sun. You’ll want to mow grass growing in the shade longer than grass growing in sunny areas.
Don’t Cut More than a Third of the Grass
One Universal law when it comes to mowing is to never cut grass by more than a third of its length at any one time. Cutting the grass by more than a third will put your grass in shock and potentially kill it. If you’re dealing with very long grass and want to cut it down quickly, then it’s better to cut it at the highest setting than to cut it too much in one go.
Set a Height for Scarifying
Scarifying can actually benefit some grass types when done properly and at the right time. This is a method that can help remove thatch and encourage growth. First, check that scarifying is right for your lawn, and set your cutting height below an inch. This low setting on your mower is for intentional scarifying and shouldn’t be used at any other time.
Factor in Lawn Mower Weight and Grass Thickness
Finally, two additional factors will affect your lawn mower’s cutting height: lawn mower weight and grass thickness. Lawn mower weights vary drastically. For example, a ride-on mower weighs much more than a push mower. So, you’ll have to factor in how much your lawn mower sinks into the soil when choosing your cutting height.
Similarly, your lawn’s thickness will determine how much the mower sinks. For example, the lawn mower will sink more in shorter grass than in longer grass. Also, different grass types are thicker than others. To adjust for this factor, periodically check your lawn’s thickness.
