Mowing Mistakes You Might Be Making (And How to Fix Them)
Avoid These Common Lawn-Cutting Errors and Keep Your Yard Looking Its Best All Season
At Nature’s View Lawnscapes, we know that mowing seems simple—just fire up the mower and go. But believe it or not, how and when you mow makes a big difference in the health, color, and overall look of your lawn.
If your grass looks dull, patchy, or just refuses to grow right, the culprit might be your mowing habits. Here are some of the most common mowing mistakes we see in South Carolina lawns—plus how to fix them for a yard that looks great and grows even better.
1. Mowing Too Short ("Scalping")
One of the biggest mistakes homeowners make is cutting the grass too low. While it might seem like a good way to reduce mowing frequency, scalping stresses your lawn, exposes the soil, and encourages weed growth.
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Fix it:
Adjust your mower to the
highest recommended setting for your grass type. In South Carolina, that’s usually:
- Bermuda: 1–2 inches
- Zoysia: 1–2 inches
- Centipede: 1.5–2 inches
- St. Augustine: 2.5–4 inches
2. Mowing on a Tight Schedule (Instead of When the Grass Needs It)
Mowing every Saturday at noon? That’s fine for your calendar, but not for your lawn. Grass growth changes with the weather—especially with the heat, rain, and humidity we get here.
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Fix it:
Mow based on
grass height, not the calendar. A good rule:
never cut more than ⅓ of the blade at one time. This keeps grass healthier and more drought-resistant.
3. Using Dull Mower Blades
Dull blades tear the grass instead of cutting it cleanly. That leads to brown tips, ragged edges, and increased disease risk.
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Fix it:
Sharpen your blades at least 2–3 times per mowing season (or more if you hit rocks or sticks). Clean blades = clean cuts = healthy lawn.
4. Mowing in the Heat of the Day
Cutting grass during peak heat not only stresses the lawn—it stresses you too.
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Fix it:
Mow in the
early morning or early evening, when temps are lower. You’ll avoid heat shock and reduce moisture loss from the soil.
5. Bagging Every Time (Instead of Mulching)
While bagging is helpful in some cases, constantly removing grass clippings robs your soil of nutrients.
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Fix it:
Leave clippings on the lawn when they’re short and dry. It’s called
“grasscycling”—and it naturally fertilizes your lawn without extra work.
Want a Lawn That Looks Professionally Mowed Every Time?
Proper mowing is just one piece of the lawn care puzzle. When you partner with Nature’s View Lawnscapes, we create a custom plan that includes mowing best practices, fertilization, pest control, and more—so your yard stays thick, green, and stress-free all season long.
📞 Call us at 864-416-5119 or to schedule a lawn assessment.
