G’day, Nikolai here from The Lawn Firm. You’d be surprised how much of a difference proper mowing makes to your lawn. I’ve seen countless lawns across Canberra improve dramatically just from adjusting mowing habits. It’s one of the simplest ways to support grass health, and it doesn’t cost a cent, especially when you know exactly what to do.

Why Mowing Matters

Mowing isn’t just about making your lawn look neat. Done right, it actually encourages stronger, thicker growth. It also helps reduce weeds, keeps pests in check, and prevents scalping, which stresses the grass and opens the door to disease.

How Often Should You Mow in Canberra?

Canberra’s climate brings different mowing needs across the year:

Spring & Summer: Weekly or fortnightly, depending on how fast your grass is growing.
Autumn: Every 2–3 weeks as growth slows down.
Winter: Once a month or less for warm-season grasses, as most go dormant.

A good rule of thumb? Never cut more than one-third of the leaf blade in a single mow.

Ideal Mowing Height for Common Turf Types

Kikuyu: 3 to 4 cm
Buffalo: 4 to 5 cm
Couch: 2 to 3 cm
Zoysia: 3 to 4 cm

Keeping the correct height helps with drought resistance and overall lawn health. Cutting too low exposes the soil and stresses the roots.

Should You Catch or Mulch Your Clippings?

This depends on the season and the condition of your lawn:

Mulch mowing in spring and autumn helps feed your lawn with organic matter.
Catching in summer prevents clippings from smothering the grass.

We often recommend alternating between the two depending on weather, grass type, and mowing frequency.

Mowing Techniques That Make a Difference

Alternate mowing patterns each time to prevent compaction
Sharpen your blades regularly for clean cuts
Avoid mowing wet grass, which tears blades and compacts soil

These little tweaks can prevent damage and promote even growth.

How The Lawn Firm Can Help

While we don’t offer mowing as a service, we do build lawn care programs that rely on correct mowing as a key part of keeping your lawn at its best. That means we guide our clients with personalised mowing tips that support the treatments we apply - from fertilising to weed and pest control.

If you're unsure whether you're mowing correctly or if your lawn isn't responding the way it should, we can help you troubleshoot and adjust. The right mowing habits, combined with the professional services we offer, make a huge difference.