Choosing the Best Lawn Mower Height Setting

Cutting your lawn at the right mowing height is the single most important thing you can do to keep your lawn healthy. Mowing at the correct height reduces weed problems, contributes to a healthy root system, increases resistance to drought, insects, and diseases, and helps prevent run-off of soil, fertilizers, chemicals, and pollutants.

When choosing the best lawnmower height setting, the first thing you need to take into account is what type of grass you are growing.

Grass species	Set mower height to (inches)	Mow at this height (inches)
Annual ryegrass	1 1/2 to 2	2 1/4 to 3
Perennial ryegrass	1 1/2 to 2 1/2	2 1/4 to 3 3/4
Bahia grass	1 1/2 to 3	2 1/4 to 4 1/2
Bermuda grass, common	1 to 1 1/2	1 1/2 to 2 1/4
Bermuda grass, hybrid	1/2 to 1	3/4 to 1 1/2
Creeping Bentgrass	1/2 to 1	3/4 to 1 1/2
Hard fescue	1 1/2 to 2 1/2	2 1/4 to 3 3/4
Kentucky bluegrass	1 1/2 to 2 1/2	2 1/4 to 3 3/4
St. Augustine grass	1 to 2	1 1/2 to 3
Tall fescue	1 1/2 to 3	2 1/4 to 4 1/2
Zoysiagrass	1/2 to 1	3/4 to 1 1/2
Buffalo grass	1 to 2	1 1/2 to 3

Grass species have a range of recommended mowing heights, and the chart above is only meant to be a guideline. Lawn experts recommend staying toward the upper end of the ranges given-especially during stressful conditions such as hot weather or drought, or if your lawn is growing in the shade. In cooler weather and under ideal conditions, you can afford to cut the grass a little lower. If you are unsure what type of grass species you have growing, cutting it at a height of 2 1/2 to 3 inches will work for the majority of grass varieties.

Follow the 1/3 Rule

For a healthy lawn, never cut more than one-third of the grass blade during any one mowing session. If your lawn grows too long, due to wet weather or a busy schedule, increase the cutting height of your mower to the highest possible setting before you mow. Then move the cutting height back to your normal range and cut the lawn again four or five days later. If you stick to the 1/3 rule, you should never have to worry about bagging the clippings, because the grass clippings will always be short enough to filter down to the soil's surface to decompose and recycle nutrients back into your lawn.

Adjusting the Mowing Height

Mowing your lawn at the correct height keeps the growth thick and vigorous, and reduces the growth of broad-leafed weeds-according to some studies, by as much as 50 to 80%. To set the mowing height on a rotary lawn mower, adjust the blade height levers at each of the lawnmower's wheels. Place the mower on a flat surface like a driveway or sidewalk and push each lever to the setting recommended above. If height settings are not indicated on your lawn mower, test the adjustment by mowing a small area of grass, then use a ruler to measure from the soil to the tip of the blade. Remember to only mow when it's dry and to keep the lawnmower's blades sharp.

About The Author: Ellen Brown is an environmental writer and photographer and the owner of Sustainable Media, an environmental media company that specializes in helping businesses and organizations promote eco-friendly products and services. Contact her on the web at http://www.sustainable-media.com