How to cut grass properly: a simple UK guide

The one rule that matters most

If you remember nothing else, remember the one-third rule: never cut off more than a third of the grass height in a single mow. Take off more than that and you shock the plant, it goes pale or brown, and weeds and moss move into the gaps.

In practice that means mowing little and often through the growing season rather than letting it get long and scalping it back. A lawn kept at 3 to 4cm and cut weekly will always beat one hacked from 10cm down to 2cm once a fortnight.

1. Wait until the grass is dry

Mow when the grass is dry, ideally mid-morning once the dew has lifted or early evening. Wet grass clumps, clogs the deck, blocks the chute and gives a ragged, uneven cut. It also smears wet clippings across the lawn which can smother it.

If you can only do it when slightly damp, raise the cut height and go slower.

2. Set the right cutting height

For a normal UK family lawn, aim for about 3 to 4cm in spring and autumn, and raise it to 4 to 5cm in high summer so the longer grass shades its own roots and holds moisture in dry spells. Drop it only slightly lower for an ornamental or striped lawn.

Most mowers have a single lever or a dial per wheel. Start higher than you think, check the result, then lower a notch if you want it shorter. You can always take more off, you cannot put it back.

3. Sharpen or replace the blade

A sharp blade slices the grass cleanly. A blunt one tears and bruises it, leaving frayed white or brown tips across the whole lawn a day or two after mowing. If your lawn looks dull and pale just after cutting, a blunt blade is the usual culprit.

Sharpen a steel rotary blade once or twice a season, or fit a cheap replacement. See our guide on how to sharpen a mower blade.

4. Mow in a steady, overlapping pattern

Walk at a steady pace in straight, slightly overlapping rows so you do not leave uncut strips (mohicans) between passes. Overlap each pass by a few centimetres.

Changing direction each time you mow, up and down one week, across the next, stops the grass leaning one way and helps it stand up for a cleaner cut.

5. Decide: collect or mulch

Collecting clippings in the box gives the tidiest finish and is best if the grass is long or you have a lot of weeds going to seed. Mulching mowers chop clippings fine and drop them back as a free, gentle feed, which is great in summer if you mow often and never let it get long.

As a rule: collect in spring and autumn when growth is heavy, mulch in summer when you are cutting little and often.

How often should you cut grass?

Through the main growing season (roughly April to October) once a week is the sweet spot, dropping to once a fortnight at the edges of the season and stopping in winter. We cover the timing in detail in how often to cut grass and the best time of day and year to mow.

The right mower makes it easier

Almost any mower will cut grass, but the right one for your lawn makes the weekly job quick and pleasant rather than a chore. For a small garden a light corded or cordless mower is ideal, for a big or rough lawn a self-propelled petrol earns its keep. Not sure? Try our Find My Mower quiz, or read the buying guide.