Over summer, we often hear people say they’ve cut their lawn really short so it won’t need mowing again for a while. It makes sense in theory, but in practice it usually creates more work and more issues down the track.
Grass relies on its leaf to produce energy and stay strong. When too much of that leaf is removed at once, the plant has to work much harder just to recover. During summer, lawns are already under pressure from heat, dry spells, and heavy growth, so cutting them too short adds stress at the worst possible time.
One of the first things we see with short summer mowing is heat stress. When grass is cut low, the soil is left exposed to direct sun. This causes it to heat up quickly and dry out faster, which puts extra strain on the roots. Keeping the grass a little longer helps shade the soil and hold moisture, even during warmer days.
Cutting too short also affects root growth. Grass that’s constantly scalped puts most of its energy into replacing lost leaf rather than building strong roots. Over time, this leads to shallow root systems that struggle to cope with hot weather, foot traffic, and inconsistent watering.
Another common issue is weeds. Thin or stressed lawns leave gaps where weeds can easily establish. A lawn kept at the right height stays denser and healthier, making it much harder for weeds to take hold in the first place.
We also see a lot of uneven growth caused by leaving lawns too long and then cutting them back hard in one go. This often results in scalping, bare patches, and slow recovery. Once that happens, it’s much harder to get the lawn back to an even, healthy finish.
So what’s the better approach?
In summer, it’s usually best to mow a little more often and avoid cutting too much off at once. As a general rule, you don’t want to remove more than about a third of the grass height in one mow. Raising the mower height slightly during hot or fast growth periods also helps reduce stress and keeps the lawn more stable.
Sharp mower blades make a big difference too. A clean cut helps grass recover faster, while torn edges lose moisture and are more prone to disease. Watering plays a role as well. Deep, less frequent watering encourages stronger roots, while light, frequent watering tends to do the opposite.
This is where having a planned lawn maintenance programmereally helps. Rather than reacting to problems as they appear, a consistent approach to mowing height, frequency, and weed control keeps lawns healthier through summer and sets them up well for the rest of the year.
At Turf Technologies, our lawn maintenance packages are designed around how lawns actually behave in Canterbury conditions. We manage mowing height and timing, address weeds before they become a problem, and adjust care as the season changes. It takes the guesswork out of summer lawn care and helps avoid the issues that come from cutting too short.
If you’d like your lawn looked after properly through summer, get in touch with the Turf Technologies team to talk through a maintenance option that suits your property.