How often to mow St. Augustine grass in Central Florida
, By Galapagos Lawncare Team · · Lawn care tips
Weekly in the summer rains, less often in winter. The one-third rule explains why, and it tells you how often your own lawn needs a cut.
Most St. Augustine lawns in Celebration, Davenport and Clermont need a cut about once a week from June through September and less often in winter. The rule that decides it is simple: never remove more than one third of the blade in a single mowing. Everything below follows from that.
What is the one-third rule?
UF/IFAS recommends mowing St. Augustine at 3.5 to 4 inches for standard varieties such as Floratam, and 2.5 inches for dwarf types like Captiva, Delmar and Seville. If you cut at 4 inches, the grass should be mowed when it reaches about 6 inches. Wait longer and one cut takes off more than a third, which stresses the lawn and leaves a brown stubble.
So “how often” is not a calendar question. It is a growth question: mow whenever the lawn has grown a third taller than its cutting height.
How often should I mow in each season?
The Florida lawn calendar gives the rhythm. These are typical for a warm-season lawn; your lawn may run a few weeks early or late.
- Winter (December–February): growth is slow. Mow only when the grass needs it.
- Spring (March–May): growth picks up. Return to a regular schedule at the recommended height.
- Summer rains (June–September): peak growth. Weekly for most lawns, because the grass can gain several inches between cuts when it rains almost every afternoon.
- Fall (October–November): growth starts slowing. Many lawns can move to every other week later in the fall.
Why does mowing height matter so much in summer?
Taller grass shades the soil, holds moisture and grows deeper roots. A lawn cut too short has less leaf to feed itself, and the exposed soil dries faster. UF/IFAS also lists mowing too short among the things that make chinch bugs worse in St. Augustine, so the habit of “scalping” the lawn for a neat look costs you later.
What if it rains and I miss a week?
It happens every rainy season. Do not take the lawn down in one pass. Cut it in two or three steps a few days apart so each cut stays near the one-third limit. If storms keep a crew off your lawn, the next visit will usually need more time and may leave more clippings; that is normal.
Should I bag the clippings?
Usually not. UF/IFAS recommends leaving clippings on the lawn, where they return nutrients to the soil. Keep them off driveways, sidewalks and the street so they do not wash into storm drains. A cleanup visit is different: heavy cuts and debris get hauled away.
What about Bahia and Zoysia?
They are cut at different heights. Bahia is cut at 3 to 4 inches and coarse Zoysia at 2 to 2.5 inches. The one-third rule still applies, so Zoysia at 2 inches needs a cut when it reaches about 3 inches. If you are not sure what grass you have, we identify it on the first visit.
What does a regular mowing visit include?
Mowing at the right height with sharp blades, trimming and edging, and blowing the hard surfaces clean. Our lawn mowing service runs weekly or every other week depending on the season, and we quote each address; see our Davenport lawn page for how that works in local communities. For what to do in each month, use the Florida lawn calendar. To get a price, request a free quote or call (407) 577-6400.
Questions on this topic
How short can I cut St. Augustine grass?
UF/IFAS says 3.5 to 4 inches for standard varieties and 2.5 inches for dwarf types. Cutting lower weakens the grass and invites pests such as chinch bugs.
Can I mow every two weeks in summer?
Rarely. In the summer rains most lawns grow more than a third of their height in two weeks, so one cut removes too much. Every other week fits late fall to early spring.
Should I mow wet grass?
Avoid it when you can. Wet blades clump, cut unevenly and clog the mower. We skip lightning and waterlogged lawns and move the visit to the next available day.
Do mowing visits change in winter?
Yes. Growth slows in the cooler months, so many lawns can move to every other week from late fall to early spring. Your quote shows how the schedule changes by season.