If you're a homeowner in Dallas, Fort Worth, Richardson, or anywhere else in North Texas, you've probably wondered whether you're mowing too often, not often enough, or just right. The honest answer: it depends on your grass type, the season, and how fast your lawn is actually growing — not the calendar.
The rule that matters more than any schedule
Lawn care professionals follow what's known as the "one-third rule": never cut more than one-third of the grass blade's height in a single mow. Cutting more than that stresses the plant, exposes the crown to heat, and is one of the most common reasons lawns in North Texas struggle through the summer.
That means your mowing frequency should track your lawn's growth rate, which changes dramatically across the year — especially with the two grass types most common in DFW yards.
Bermuda grass in North Texas
Bermuda is the most common lawn grass across the Metroplex because it handles heat and full sun better than almost anything else. During peak growing season (roughly May through August), Bermuda can need mowing every 5 to 7 days to stay within the one-third rule. In cooler shoulder months (April, September, October), that usually stretches to every 10 to 14 days. Bermuda goes dormant and turns brown in winter — mowing during dormancy isn't necessary and can do more harm than good.
Recommended mowing height for Bermuda: 1.5–2.5 inches. Cutting it shorter than that regularly weakens the root system and opens the door to weeds.
St. Augustine grass in North Texas
St. Augustine is popular in shadier yards and older neighborhoods across DFW. It grows a bit slower than Bermuda but should still be mowed roughly every 7 to 10 days during peak summer growth, backing off to every 2 weeks in spring and fall.
Recommended mowing height for St. Augustine: 3–4 inches. St. Augustine actually benefits from being left a bit taller — it helps shade out weeds and keeps roots cooler during triple-digit stretches.
Why "overgrown" lawns need a different first mow
If your lawn has gotten away from you — whether from a rainy stretch, a vacation, or a lapse in service — don't try to bring it back to normal height in one pass. Cutting a significantly overgrown lawn down to its ideal height all at once violates the one-third rule badly and can shock the grass, leaving behind a thin, patchy, stressed lawn for weeks. It usually takes two mows spaced a few days apart to bring an overgrown lawn back down safely.
A simple way to think about it
Instead of mowing on a fixed weekly schedule regardless of conditions, watch the grass. If it's grown past the one-third mark, it's time to mow — whether that's 5 days later or 12. A consistent, professionally scheduled mow (weekly during the growing season, tapering off in the shoulder months) is the easiest way to stay ahead of it without having to think about it.