5 Lawn Mowing Mistakes to Avoid This Summer.

Keeping your lawn lush, green, and healthy during summer can be tricky if you're not following the right mowing practices. Many homeowners unintentionally damage their lawns due to common mowing mistakes that can lead to uneven growth, brown patches, or even disease. Whether you're a DIY enthusiast or rely on a professional lawn mowing service, knowing what not to do can make all the difference.

Here are 5 common lawn mowing mistakes you should avoid this summer — and what you should do instead to maintain a healthy and beautiful yard.

1. Cutting the Grass Too Short ("Scalping")

One of the biggest mistakes is mowing your lawn too short. Cutting too low stresses the grass, reduces photosynthesis, and exposes soil to the sun — all of which can lead to browning, weeds, and lawn disease.

Tip: Never remove more than one-third of the grass height at a time. For most grass types, keeping it around 2.5 to 3 inches tall in summer promotes deep root growth and improves drought resistance — especially if you have a lawn irrigation system in place.

2. Using Dull Mower Blades

Using dull mower blades is another silent lawn killer. Dull blades tear the grass rather than cutting it cleanly, leaving ragged edges that are prone to disease.

Solution: Sharpen your mower blades at least once a month during peak mowing season or hire a lawn mowing service that maintains their equipment professionally.

3. Mowing a Wet Lawn

Mowing when your grass is wet — especially after rain or early in the morning — can cause the mower to rip up grass and compact the soil. Wet grass clumps together, blocking sunlight and suffocating healthy turf.

Pro Tip: Always mow when the lawn is dry, ideally in the early evening. And if you’re unsure, let experienced lawn services  Vancouver handle the job with the right timing and equipment.

4. Not Changing Your Mowing Pattern

Many homeowners mow the same way every time — back and forth in the same direction. Over time, this causes the grass to lean one way and compact the soil beneath, leading to poor root development and bare spots.

What to Do: Alternate your mowing pattern each time — try diagonal, horizontal, or vertical lines. This keeps the grass upright and healthy.

5. Leaving Clumps of Grass Behind

While mulching grass clippings can be beneficial, leaving large clumps behind is not. Clumps can block sunlight, trap moisture, and cause fungus to grow — leading to the need for lawn disease control services.

Solution: Use a mulching mower or rake heavy clumps after mowing. This will promote better airflow and reduce the risk of mold and lawn diseases.