Mowing height is the single biggest maintenance decision you make every week, and it’s different for every grass variety. Cut too short and you stress the lawn, invite disease, and dull its color. Cut too tall (for some varieties) and it gets floppy and uneven. Here’s the exact number for every variety we sell in the Austin area.
Mowing Height & Frequency by Variety
| Grass Variety | Mow Height | Mow Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Raleigh St. Augustine | 3–4 in | Every 7–10 days |
| Palmetto St. Augustine | 3–4 in | Every 7–10 days |
| Amerishade St. Augustine | 3.5–4 in | Every 7–10 days |
| Celebration Bermuda | 1–2 in | Every 5–7 days |
| Tifway 419 Bermuda | 0.5–1.5 in | Every 4–5 days |
| TifTuf Bermuda | 1–2 in | Every 5–7 days |
| Palisades Zoysia | 1.5–2.5 in | Every 7–10 days |
| Emerald Zoysia | 0.5–1 in | Every 5–7 days |
| Zeon Zoysia | 1–2 in | Every 7–10 days |
| Stadium Zoysia | 1.5–2.5 in | Every 7–10 days |
Not sure which variety is in your yard? See our grass type guides or call us and describe it — blade width and color are usually enough for us to identify it.
The One-Third Rule
No matter the variety, never remove more than one-third of the blade length in a single mow. If your grass is supposed to be kept at 2 inches, that means you should mow again once it reaches 3 inches — not let it grow to 5 or 6 inches and scalp it back down.
Cutting more than a third at once:
- Shocks the plant and slows growth for days afterward
- Exposes stems and thatch, which look pale/brown
- Removes too much leaf surface for photosynthesis, weakening the root system
- Opens the door to fungal disease, especially in Austin’s humid summer stretches
If your lawn has gotten away from you, raise the mower to its highest setting first, then gradually lower it over 2-3 mows to reach target height — don’t take it all off in one pass.
Why Bermuda and Zoysia Get Cut So Much Shorter Than St. Augustine
St. Augustine has no underground rhizomes — its only growing point is the crown at soil level, and if it’s scalped too short, it can die out in patches with no way to recover. That’s why St. Augustine is always kept relatively tall (3-4 inches).
Bermuda and Zoysia spread by both stolons (above ground) and rhizomes (below ground), so they can tolerate — and often look better — cut much shorter, closer to a golf-course or sports-field look. Tifway 419 in particular is bred for very low, dense cutting.
Reel Mowers vs. Rotary Mowers
For anything under about 1 inch (Tifway 419, Emerald Zoysia), a reel mower gives a cleaner cut and healthier result than a standard rotary mower, which tends to shred ultra-short grass rather than cut it cleanly. For 1.5 inches and up, a sharp rotary mower works fine for every variety we carry.
Whatever mower you use, sharpen or replace the blade at least once a season. Dull blades tear grass instead of cutting it, leaving ragged, browning tips that make the whole lawn look unhealthy even right after mowing.
Adjust Height Seasonally
- Spring green-up: mow at the low end of the range to remove winter debris and encourage fresh growth (Bermuda can be scalped in early spring specifically for this).
- Peak summer heat: mow at the higher end of the range — slightly taller grass shades its own roots and soil, reducing water loss.
- Going into winter: raise height slightly for St. Augustine and Zoysia before the first frost; this protects the crown from cold damage.
Just Call Us
If you’re not sure what variety you have or what height to set your mower to, call us at (936) 510-0964 — we’re happy to help you figure it out.
Get a free quote or call (936) 510-0964.