The two most important facets of mowing are mowing height and frequency. The minimum height for any lawn is 2 inches. The preferred mowing height for all Colorado species is 2.5 to 3 inches. Mowing to less than 2 inches can result in decreased drought and heat tolerance and higher incidence of insects, diseases and weeds. The lawn should be mowed at the same height all year. There is no reason to mow turf shorter in late fall. Turf should be mowed often enough so no more than 1/3 of the grass height is removed at any single mowing. For example, if the height on the mower is 2 inches, mow the grass when it is 3 inches tall. A bluegrass or fescue lawn may have to be mowed every three to four days during the spring when it is actively growing but only once every seven to 10 days when growth is slowed by heat, drought or cold. Buffalo grass lawns may require mowing once every 10 to 20 days, depending on how much they are watered. More information on lawn care is available in the fact sheet Lawn Care.

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