How often to mow Bermuda and St. Augustine grass in DFW

Most lawns around Dallas–Fort Worth are one of two warm-season grasses: Bermuda or St. Augustine. Both grow hard in hot weather and go dormant (brown) after a hard freeze, but they like very different mowing heights and schedules.

The one rule that matters most

Never remove more than about one-third of the grass blade in a single cut. Cutting off more than that stresses the plant, exposes the soil to weeds and heat, and leaves the lawn looking scalped. Mowing frequency comes down to how fast your grass grows past its target height.

Bermuda grass

• Height: common Bermuda generally looks and performs best around 1–2 inches.
• Peak season (roughly May–September): Bermuda can grow fast enough in heat and after rain that weekly mowing is what keeps it within the one-third rule.
• Shoulder seasons (spring green-up and fall): growth slows, and every 10–14 days is often enough.
• Sun: Bermuda needs full sun and thins in heavy shade.

St. Augustine grass

• Height: St. Augustine prefers to be kept taller, roughly 3–4 inches. Cutting it too short thins the turf.
• Frequency: it typically grows a bit slower than Bermuda, so weekly to every 10 days in summer, and less often in spring and fall.
• Shade: St. Augustine tolerates shade better than Bermuda, which is why it’s common under trees.

Weekly or biweekly?

If you have Bermuda and want it to look its best through the summer, weekly is the safe bet. Biweekly can work for slower-growing yards, St. Augustine kept at a taller height, or cooler months. A long gap followed by a short cut is what causes most scalping and brown patches.

A few more tips

• Keep mower blades sharp; dull blades tear the grass and leave brown tips.
• Leave short clippings on the lawn; they break down quickly and return nutrients.
• Avoid mowing soaking-wet grass when you can. It clumps and can rut soft ground.
• In extreme heat or drought, raise the cut a little to shade the soil.

We Do Lawns DFW offers weekly, biweekly and one-time cuts, as low as $39 per cut. Text your address and a yard photo for a quote.