Recommended Mowing Heights
The following reference chart is helpful for determining the proper height of cut for your reel mower. It is also important to remember the “1/3rd” rule so that you do not stress the grass.
| Species |
Normal Weather |
High-Temperature Stress Period |
| Colonial bentgrass |
0.30 – 0.80 |
0.50 – 0.80 |
| Creeping bentgrass |
0.125 – 0.80 |
0.188 – 0.80 |
| Fine fescue |
0.50 – 2.00 |
1.50 – 3.00 |
| Kentucky bluegrass |
1.50 – 2.25 |
2.25 – 3.00 |
| Perennial ryegrass |
1.50- 2.00 |
2.00 – 3.00 |
| Tall fescue |
1.75 – 3.00 |
2.50 – 3.50 |
| Bermudagrass |
0.25 – 1.50 |
NA |
| Bahiagrass |
1.50 – 3.00 |
NA |
| Buffalograss |
1.00 to unmowed |
NA |
| Carpetgrass |
1.00 – 3.00 |
NA |
| Centipedegrass |
1.00 – 3.00 |
NA |
| Seashore paspalum |
0.45 – 2.00 |
NA |
| St. Augustinegrass |
3.00 – 4.00 |
NA |
| Zoysiagrass |
0.50 – 2.00 |
NA |
Source:
Christians, Nick, Fundamentals of Turfgrass Management: Ann Arbor Press, Chelsea, Michigan: 1998.
