Start with your grass type
Most lawns around Frisco, Plano and McKinney are warm-season grasses. The two you will see most are Bermuda and St. Augustine, with some Zoysia mixed in. Warm-season grasses grow hard in the heat, slow down in fall, and go mostly dormant and tan in winter.
Telling them apart is easy once you know what to look for. Bermuda has fine, narrow blades and spreads aggressively by runners above and below ground. It loves full sun. St. Augustine has wide, flat, coarse blades and thick above-ground runners. It handles shade better, which is why you often see it under mature trees.
| Grass | Typical mowing height | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Bermuda | About 1 to 2 inches | Full sun, grows fast, spreads onto concrete |
| St. Augustine | About 3 to 4 inches | Handles shade, does not like being cut short |
| Zoysia | About 1 to 2.5 inches | Dense, slower growing |
These are general ranges. In the hottest, driest stretch of summer, mowing at the top of your grass's range helps it handle the stress.
The one-third rule
If you remember one thing about mowing, make it this: never cut off more than about one third of the grass blade at a time. If your St. Augustine should sit at 3.5 inches, mow before it gets much past 5. Cutting off more than a third at once shocks the grass, can scalp it down to the stems, and leaves brown patches that take days to green back up.
This rule is the real reason mowing frequency matters. When grass grows fast, you have to cut more often to keep each cut small.
Green-up and the first cuts
As soil warms, warm-season grass wakes up and starts to green. This is when regular mowing starts back up. Early cuts help clear off the tan, dormant top growth so new green blades get sun.
Spring rains in North Texas can make grass jump quickly. As growth picks up, it is a good time to move to a weekly schedule so you can stay inside the one-third rule.
Peak growth, peak heat
This is the main event. Warm-season grass grows its fastest in the heat, and in the middle of summer weekly mowing is the simplest way to keep up.
- Mow a little higher. Taller grass shades the soil, holds moisture and roots deeper.
- Keep blades sharp. A dull blade tears grass instead of slicing it, leaving frayed tips that brown and lose more water.
- Leave the clippings on the lawn. Short clippings break down quickly and return nutrients to the soil. Just keep them off the driveway and walks.
- Water deep and less often. Early morning watering loses less to evaporation. Follow your city's current watering schedule.
During a drought or a long heat wave, grass may slow down and go partly dormant. If the lawn is not growing much, it does not need to be cut as low or as often.
Slowing down
As nights cool, growth slows. Many yards no longer need a weekly cut, and every other week can be enough. Keep mowing at a normal height going into winter. Scalping the lawn short in fall does not help warm-season grass.
Falling leaves can smother grass if they pile up. A light layer can be mulched by the mower; heavy piles are best raked or bagged.
Dormant season
Bermuda and St. Augustine go tan and mostly stop growing. They are not dead, just resting. Mowing needs drop way down, though winter weeds can pop up and stick out above the dormant lawn.
Avoid heavy traffic on frozen or frosted grass, which can damage the blades.
A few more habits that help
- Do not mow soaking wet grass. Wet grass clumps, cuts unevenly, and can rut soft ground.
- Change direction. Mowing the same pattern every time can lean the grass one way and wear tracks. Switching it up keeps the lawn standing straight.
- Edge regularly. Bermuda and St. Augustine both spread by runners and will creep across sidewalks and driveways if they are left alone.
- Give new sod time. Freshly laid sod needs to root before its first cut. If a corner lifts when you tug it, wait.
- Protect tree trunks. Mowers and trimmer line can damage bark. A small mulch ring around young trees helps.
Rather not think about any of this? That is the point of a regular mowing schedule. Coopers Mowing offers weekly and every other week plans with the full mow, trim, edge and blow-off every visit.