How often should you mow Bermuda grass in summer?

The short answer

Mow a Bermuda lawn every 5 to 7 days from June through August. That's the University of Arkansas extension service's summer guideline for Bermuda lawns. Mow less often when a dry spell slows the grass down, and more often when rain or fertilizer speeds it up.

The rule underneath the schedule matters more than the day of the week: never cut off more than one-third of the grass blade at once. Oklahoma State University's Bermudagrass calendar and Kansas State's mowing guide both make that the main test. Mow when the grass reaches one and a half times your mowing height, whatever the calendar says.

Why summer means more mowing

Bermuda is a warm-season grass, and June, July and August are when it grows fastest. Arkansas's fact sheet says it directly: rapid growth means frequent mowing in those three months, and mowing frequency also tracks nitrogen fertilizer and rainfall or irrigation.

So a fixed weekly mow can keep up one week and fall behind the next. Kansas State's guide says the same: with the one-third rule, growth sets the schedule, and some weeks need more than one mow.

Your mowing height sets the schedule

The shorter you cut, the more often you have to mow. Kansas State's guide lays out the math for the one-third rule:

• Cut at 1 inch: mow when the grass reaches 1½ inches.
• Cut at 1½ inches: mow at 2¼ inches.
• Cut at 2 inches: mow at 3 inches.
• Cut at 2½ inches: mow at 3¾ inches.

A lawn kept at 1 inch only has half an inch of growth to spare before it needs a cut. A lawn kept at 2½ inches has an inch and a quarter.

What height OSU recommends for summer

Oklahoma State's Bermudagrass Lawn Management Calendar (L-441) gives two summer cutting heights, June through October:

• 2½ inches for medium- to low-maintenance lawns
• 1½ inches for high-maintenance lawns

The lower height means less growth to spare between cuts, so a high-maintenance lawn gets mowed more often.

Hybrid Bermuda wants to stay short

Hybrid Bermuda, such as Tifway or TifSport, is planted from sod, sprigs or plugs rather than seed. Oklahoma State's 2020 article on Bermuda mowing says modern dense hybrids perform best when they aren't mowed above 1½ inches. The taller the shoots grow, the higher the growing point sits, so a cut back down after the lawn gets tall can scalp it. OSU turfgrass specialist Dennis Martin describes the result as uneven browning that needs time to recover.

That shorter height is what makes hybrids work. Arkansas's fact sheet says hybrid Bermuda looks best mowed three times a week with a reel mower, and calls that impractical for most homeowners. Clemson University's extension service says Bermuda in rapid growth or under intensive care may need mowing at least twice a week to prevent scalping. Common Bermuda is cut higher, at 1½ to 2½ inches per Arkansas, and OSU's article says older common types are less prone to scalping.

When to mow less often

During drought

Arkansas's summer guideline adds a caveat: mow less often when the lawn is drought stressed. A thirsty lawn grows slowly. OSU's calendar suggests watering when your footprints stay visible in the grass after you walk across it. If the footprints show and the grass hasn't grown a third past your height, the lawn needs water before it needs a mow.

After a missed week

If rain or a trip lets the lawn get tall, don't cut it all the way back in one pass. Kansas State's advice is to raise the mower for the first cut, then lower it over the next few mows until you're back at your normal height. Kansas State also says it's better to mow wet grass than to let it keep growing.

Leave the clippings

Clippings from a lawn mowed on schedule are short enough to drop into the turf and break down. Kansas State notes they don't cause thatch, since they're 85 to 90 percent water, and that removing them every time means adding about 25 percent more nitrogen fertilizer to make up the difference. OSU recommends recycling clippings with a mulching mower. Bag only when clumps sit on top of the grass, which usually means the lawn waited too long between cuts.

Common questions

Is once a week enough for Bermuda grass in summer?

For most home lawns cut around 2 to 2½ inches, yes. Arkansas's extension service recommends every 5 to 7 days from June through August. Clemson's extension service says Bermuda in rapid growth or under intensive care may need mowing at least twice a week.

Can I cut my Bermuda grass high so I can mow less often?

Not by much. Bermuda spreads on runners close to the ground, and Kansas State says it builds excess thatch when mowed higher than recommended. OSU's guidance for dense hybrids is to stay at or below 1½ inches, because a tall stand scalps easily.

Should I mow Bermuda grass during a drought?

Mow less often and only when the grass has grown enough to need it. Arkansas's guide says to mow less often when the lawn is drought stressed, and OSU suggests watering when footprints stay visible in the grass.

What is the one-third rule for mowing?

Never remove more than one-third of the grass height in one mowing. For a 2-inch cut, mow when the lawn reaches 3 inches. Cutting off more shocks the grass and leaves thin, stemmy turf with weaker roots.

Keeping up with summer growth

Summer is when a missed week shows. Our lawn care plans cover mowing and edging in Jenks, Bixby, Glenpool, Sand Springs and Sapulpa. We agree on visit frequency after looking at your lawn, and the schedule goes in your written quote. If you only want recurring mowing, we can quote that on its own. Send us a few photos and we'll put the work and the price in writing.

Sources: University of Arkansas Extension, Lawn Care Calendar: Bermudagrass (FSA6121, PDF) · Oklahoma State University Extension, Bermudagrass Lawn Management Calendar (L-441, PDF) · Oklahoma State University, Adjust mowing frequency, cutting height on bermudagrass lawns (2020) · Kansas State University, Mowing Your Lawn (MF1155) · Clemson University HGIC, Bermudagrass (HGIC 1208)