Texas Lawn Mowing Guide
Texas runs warm-season grass, which changes everything about mowing: the lawn greens up in spring, peaks through a long, hot summer, and goes dormant (brown) in winter. The two grasses most Texas homeowners have — Bermuda and St. Augustine — want opposite mowing heights, and getting that wrong is the most common mistake in the state.
What grass do you have?
- Bermuda — full-sun, drought-tough, the default across most of Texas. Cut it low.
- Zoysia — dense and slow-growing; tolerates a bit more shade than Bermuda.
- St. Augustine — the shade-tolerant choice for East Texas and coastal lawns. Cut it high; scalping it invites weeds and chinch bugs.
Mowing heights for Texas grasses
| Grass | Mowing height | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bermuda (common) | 1.5–2.5 in | Hybrid Bermuda goes lower (1–1.5 in) but needs a reel mower below ~1 in |
| Zoysia | 1.5–2.5 in | Raise toward the top of the range in shade |
| St. Augustine | 3.5–4 in | Never scalp; the high cut shades out weeds and deters chinch bugs |
Cut no more than one-third of the blade height at a time, and raise the deck about half an inch through the worst of the July–August heat to reduce stress.
Texas mowing calendar
| Month | Mowing & lawn care |
|---|---|
| Jan | Dormant. No mowing. Sharpen the mower blade for spring. |
| Feb | Still dormant. Late Feb: a low “scalp” cut clears dead thatch before green-up (bag the clippings). |
| Mar | Green-up begins (South Texas first). First real mow as color returns. |
| Apr | Active growth — mow weekly at the lower end of the height range. |
| May | Peak spring growth; mow weekly. Keep St. Augustine at 3.5–4 in. |
| Jun | Heat ramps up. Raise Bermuda/Zoysia slightly; mow every 5–7 days. |
| Jul | Peak heat — raise heights ~½ in, mow in the evening, never cut stressed turf short. |
| Aug | Hot and dry. Hold the raised height; water deeply and infrequently. |
| Sep | Cooler temps; growth resumes. Return to normal heights. |
| Oct | Strong fall growth — mow weekly. |
| Nov | Growth slows; take the last mow in late November. |
| Dec | Dormant. Final cleanup, then rest the mower. |
Mowers & equipment
A standard rotary mower handles common Bermuda, Zoysia, and St. Augustine at these heights. See our mowing height guide and best lawn mowers for picks.
Get the full Texas plan
📖 Lush Lawns Texas — region-specific mowing heights, seasonal timing, and lawn care for Texas (Bermuda, Zoysia, and St. Augustine).
📖 Lush Lawns Texas — region-specific mowing heights, seasonal timing, and lawn care for Texas (Bermuda, Zoysia, and St. Augustine).