Southeast Lawn Mowing Guide
The Southeast sits in the transition zone, so your first mow of the year depends on your latitude as much as the calendar — coastal Georgia greens up weeks before the Carolina foothills. Warm-season grasses dominate, and summer humidity makes mowing height and timing a disease-prevention tool, not just a cosmetic choice.
What grass do you have?
- Bermuda — full-sun workhorse for lawns and sports fields.
- Zoysia — dense, slow, and shade-tolerant; a low-maintenance favorite.
- Centipede — for the region’s acidic clay soils; low input, low mowing.
Mowing heights for Southeast grasses
| Grass | Mowing height | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bermuda | 1–2 in | Lower with a reel mower; 1.5–2 in for rotary lawns |
| Zoysia | 1.5–2.5 in | Raise in shade |
| Centipede | 1.5–2 in | Keep it modest — avoid scalping and over-feeding |
A taller cut and morning watering (so blades dry by night) are your best defense against brown patch and dollar spot in humid summers.
Southeast mowing calendar
| Month | Mowing & lawn care |
|---|---|
| Jan | Dormant. No mowing. |
| Feb | Dormant; plan pre-emergent for early spring. |
| Mar | Green-up begins on the coast; first mow as color returns. |
| Apr | Inland green-up; mow weekly as growth establishes. |
| May | Active growth statewide; weekly cuts. |
| Jun | Heat and humidity — mow every 5–7 days; watch for fungal disease. |
| Jul | Peak season; raise the deck slightly; morning watering only. |
| Aug | Hot and humid; maintain raised height, sharp blade. |
| Sep | Growth continues; disease pressure eases as nights cool. |
| Oct | Strong fall growth; weekly mowing. |
| Nov | Growth slows; last mow late month (earlier inland). |
| Dec | Dormant. Cleanup and rest. |
Mowers & equipment
See our mowing height guide and best lawn mowers for equipment suited to warm-season turf.
Get the full Southeast plan
📖 Lush Lawns Southeast — region-specific mowing heights, seasonal timing, and lawn care for Southeast (Bermuda, Zoysia, and Centipede).