How often should you cut your lawn in Ontario?

Most lawns in the GTA are cool-season grasses such as Kentucky bluegrass, fescues and ryegrass. They grow fastest in the cool, wet weeks of spring and fall, and slow down in the heat of summer. How often you mow should follow that growth.

A simple rule: never cut more than a third

Removing more than about a third of the grass blade at once stresses the lawn and weakens the roots. Mow often enough that each cut only takes off the top third.

Through the season

• Spring and early summer: growth is fast, so most lawns need a weekly cut.
• Mid-summer heat: growth slows, especially in dry spells; every one to two weeks is often enough.
• Fall: growth picks up again with cooler weather; go back to weekly cuts until it slows before winter.

How high to cut

Taller grass shades the soil, holds moisture and crowds out weeds. For most GTA lawns, keeping the grass on the taller side through summer makes it more resilient to heat and drought.

Other tips

• Keep mower blades sharp for a clean cut that heals quickly.
• Leave short clippings on the lawn: they break down and return nutrients to the soil.
• Avoid mowing wet grass, which clumps and tears.
• Edge along walkways and beds regularly for a finished look.

Let someone else handle it

Twisted Oak Landscaping offers weekly and bi-weekly lawn maintenance, with seasonal contracts from spring through fall. Get a free quote; we reply within 24 hours.