Myth Demystified
Should You Mow Your Lawn on a Fixed Weekly Schedule
Demystified By
Expert Name: AJ Lindsey
Expert's Take
In general, mowing frequency should be adjusted based on turfgrass growth rate rather than a fixed calendar schedule. Turfgrass growth varies throughout the year depending on the species, season, weather conditions, fertility, and irrigation practices.
While a weekly mowing schedule may work during periods of relatively consistent growth, it can result in removing too much leaf tissue and increase the risk of scalping during periods of rapid growth. It can also result in mowing more frequently than necessary when growth slows.
The best approach is to adjust mowing frequency as needed to follow the one-third rule, meaning no more than one-third of the leaf blade should be removed during a single mowing. This helps maintain turf quality and reduce stress on the grass.
MFY Notes
Lawn care apps and smart scheduling tools have made it easier than ever to put mowing on autopilot. Pick a day, set a recurring reminder, and let the app handle the rest. The problem, as AJ Lindsey explains above, is that grass doesn’t actually grow on a seven-day cycle. It speeds up during a spring flush, slows down in summer heat or drought, and shifts with changes in fertility and irrigation throughout the season, none of which a fixed weekly reminder can account for.
The more reliable approach is to follow your lawn’s heartbeat, not just the app’s date. Instead of mowing because the calendar says it’s time, check how much the grass has actually grown and mow once it’s reached that point, using the one-third rule as your guide.
For a full walkthrough of how to apply the one-third rule in practice, see our one-third mowing rule guide.