Mowing your lawn isn’t just about keeping things tidy — in the summer heat, it’s one of the most important tools you have to help your grass survive. Scorching sun and quick evaporation can turn a healthy yard brown fast, but small changes to your mowing routine can make all the difference.
If you’re cutting too short, mowing in peak heat or using dull blades, your lawn might be struggling more than it needs to. Instead, raise your mower height, mow early in the morning or late in the evening, and leave the clippings behind to help the soil hold onto moisture. These tweaks can reduce stress on your grass and boost its chances of staying green, even during the hottest weeks. With just a few adjustments, your yard can thrive while your neighbors’ turn crispy.
Instead of letting your grass become a casualty of the summer sun, take a few simple steps to give it a better shot at staying lush and green. Raise the mower height, mow when it’s cooler outside, and leave the clippings on the ground to help the soil retain moisture. These may sound like small changes, but they make a big impact over time. With the right approach, your lawn can stay vibrant even when the weather is working against it.
1. Keep it long
A short trim can cause damage to your lawn, especially during hotter months.
For some, a perfect lawn is always well-trimmed and consistently kept short. Unfortunately, while this may look nice, it can be a detriment to the overall life of your grass.
During the hottest days of summer when your yard is competing with sweltering heat, blazing sun and less rain, it’s best to keep the grass about 4 inches high after a cut. That may seem long but taller grass retains more water and has longer, healthier roots.
2. Wait until the grass is dry
Mowing when there is still dew on the ground can damage your lawn.
It may seem obvious during the summer when it reaches unbearable temps during the day to try and get started mowing early in the cool morning hours. But if there’s still dew on the ground, you can lose time and damage your lawn. This is caused by the high likelihood that wet grass will clump up in the discharge chute (that flappy thing on the side), requiring you to stop and remove the clog. Plus, your mower tires won’t get great traction either and could put tracks in your yard.
Instead, wait until later in the morning when the dew dries, or mow the lawn late in the day before the evening dew. Also, time your sprinklers to start up in the late evening or at night so there isn’t extra moisture on the grass when you mow. Here are some more watering tips for your lawn.
3. Go slower
Keep your speeds low to make mowing go fast.
Short on time or just want to get the chore over faster? Then going fast makes the most sense, right? But while it’s tempting to go fast while mowing, it can actually create more work for you. By not taking your time and letting the mower do its job properly, there’s a good chance it will leave some areas uncut and give the lawn an uneven, sloppy look. This means you’ll have to take more time to re-mow it to make the lawn look correct.
Instead, take the path of the turtle — slow and steady. A slower, mid-speed mowing session is faster and better for your lawn than zooming around the grass and ultimately needing to re-mow it later. Also, remember that the choke needs to be lower for slower speeds to run properly.
4. Be consistent
My yard has never had such a professional look.
Mowing randomly across your lawn can take up more time and lead to an uneven cut. Follow a pattern instead, using this technique:
- Start on the edge of your lawn with the discharge chute pointing toward your lawn
- Mow around the perimeter of your lawn
- When you get to your starting point, make a U-turn so the discharge chute is facing the strip you just cut
- Keep mowing around the perimeter, making sure the discharge chute is pointed toward where you just mowed.
In the end, your lawn will end up with a nice pattern and the discharge chute won’t clog.
5. Prep your mower for the next round
Regular maintenance on your mower is important to ensure it is reliable and does a great job each and every time you take it out. Spending a little time after you finish mowing will keep your mower in tip-top shape and lasting longer. Start by turning the mower over and rinsing the blades and discharge chute with a garden hose before putting it away. This will prevent grass from building up, drying out and being much harder to remove.
If the air filter on your push mower looks dirty, give it a good wash with some mild dish soap and rinse it with the garden hose. Set the filter aside to dry so you can put it on right before mowing next time.
One of the best time savers is keeping your lawn mower blade sharp. A dull blade will require you to go over the same patch of lawn more than once to cut any raggedy bits left behind. A sharp blade allows you to zip around your lawn just once and still get great results. Most mower repair shops will sharpen the blades for a small fee, or you can do it yourself with these tips.
FAQs to help you get the best-looking lawn
It’s best to start mowing around the edges of your lawn, with the grass clippings going into your uncut grass. After cutting around the entire perimeter of your yard, turn back around and mow in the opposite direction, with the grass chute pointing toward the perimeter grass you already cut. Continue this mowing direction until complete.
Want to make watering your lawn easier? Here’s CNET’s guide to making your own automated lawn watering system.
