What Happens if You Let Your Grass Grow Too Long?

Written by Shelley Frost; Updated December 14, 2018
What Happens if You Let Your Grass Grow Too Long?

What Happens if You Let Your Grass Grow Too Long?

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When the mower sits idle for extended periods, the health and appearance of the lawn suffers. A regular lawn care routine that includes mowing keeps the grass at an appropriate height to allow for proper growth. While some ornamental grasses are meant to grow tall, turf grass varieties need regular mowing for a healthy, strong root system.

Unsightly Appearance

Tall turf grass is typically considered unattractive in lawns. The tall grass becomes thin with some blades growing much taller than others for an inconsistent appearance. After long periods without mowing, the grass may go to seed, causing the blades to look more like weeds than grass. In addition to decreased curb appeal, excessively tall grass puts the homeowner at risk for complaints. Many cities require homeowners to keep the lawn mowed. If a neighbor complains, the homeowner potentially faces fines from the city.

Mowing Difficulties

The stress of mowing is minimized when only one-third of the grass height is removed. When you wait too long between mowing, it becomes more difficult to stay within the recommended guidelines. For the least amount of stress, setting the mower higher and gradually reducing the height is the best option. The mower may have difficulty cutting down the tall grass even with an increased blade height. A sharp blade is essential and moving slowly also helps the mower work efficiently to cut down the tall grass.

Excessive Grass Clippings

When you do mow your tall grass, the clippings left behind are longer and more difficult to manage. With regular mowing, the short clippings easily fall to the ground where they decompose and add nutrients to the soil. Longer grass clippings tend to sit on top of the lawn in unattractive clumps. Those clippings also block sunlight to the turf grass, affecting its growth. Mowing the lawn frequently reduces the clumped piles of grass clippings.

Unhealthy Grass

A lawn that isn't mowed regularly to the recommended height is often less healthy than a manicured lawn. If you cut more than one-third of the blade length to correct overgrown grass, your lawn may stop growing or need additional irrigation to recover. Root growth slows, causing the grass to weaken. A lawn full of weak grass is more susceptible to disease, pests and weeds. Regular mowing to keep the grass between 2 and 3 inches during the growing season keeps the lawn vigorous and better able to resist damage.

About the Author

Shelley Frost


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