The ideal height to cut grass depends on the type of grass and the season. Here are some general guidelines from the search results:

• Cool-season grasses: In the spring, cut cool-season grasses to 3 or 4 inches. Once your grass reaches a height of about 6 inches tall, it’s time to mow. In the summer, keep cool-season grasses slightly taller, around 3 or 3 ½ inches. In the fall, grass should be cut to a medium length to keep it at a reasonable height over winter but to keep the roots protected during winter. A height of 2 ½ inches is suggested before winters first frost.

• Warm-season grasses: In the spring, warm-season grasses should be cut to 2 or 2 ½ inches, and youll know it’s time to mow once these grasses reach about 4 inches tall. In the summer, keep warm-season grasses slightly taller, around 2 or 2 ½ inches. In the fall, warm-season grasses can be cut to 1 ½ or 2 inches before cooler weather appears.

• General rule of thumb: Never cut more than one-third of the total grass blade length at a single cutting. For a typical residential Midwest lawn, maintain a height of 3 inches or higher. Taller grass shades out weed seeds and keeps soil cooler. Remove no more than 1/3 of the leaf tissue when you mow. Mowing too short or scalping results in stress to the grass plant. Weak grass plants will take longer to recover.

• Specific grass types: Different grass types have different ideal cutting heights. For example, Bermuda grass should be cut to 0.5 to 2.5 inches, while St. Augustine grass should be cut to 1 to 3 inches. See the grass-cutting height chart in or for more specific information.

Its important to note that mowing too short can stress the grass plant and make it more susceptible to weed invasion, drought, and heat damage. Additionally, its recommended to leave grass clippings on the lawn as they can contribute to lawn nutrition. Finally, its important to maintain a sharp mower blade to cut the grass blade cleanly and reduce disease from damage caused by a dull mower blade.