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How to Manage Pests

The UC Guide to Healthy Lawns

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Recommended cutting height

Mowing height recommendations for turf species

Turf species Set mower to (inches) Mow when turf reaches this height (inches)
Annual ryegrass 1 1/2 - 2 2 1/4 - 3
Bermudagrass 1 - 1 1/2 (for seeded bermudagrass) 1/2 - 3/4 (for hybrids)

 1 1/2 - 2 1/4 (for seeded bermudagrass) 3/4 - 1 1/8 (for hybrids)
Buffalograss 1 - 2 1 1/2 - 3
Colonial bentgrass 1/2 - 1 3/4 - 1 1/2
Creeping bentgrass 1/2 or less 3/4 or less
Dichondra 1/2 - 3/4 (can be unmowed) 3/4 - 1 1/8
Hard fescue 1 1/2 - 2 1/2 2 1/4 - 3 3/4
Kentucky bluegrass 1 1/2 - 2 1/2 2 1/4 - 3 3/4
Kikuyugrass 1 - 1 1/2 1 1/2 -2 1/4
Perennial ryegrass 1 1/2 - 2 1/2 2 1/4 - 3 3/4
Red fescue 1 1/2 - 2 1/2 2 1/4 - 3 3/4
Rough bluegrass 1 - 2 1/2 1 1/2 - 3 3/4
Seashore paspalum 3/4 - 1 1/2 1 1/8 - 2 1/4
St. Augustinegrass 1 - 2 1 1/2 - 3
Tall fescue 1 1/2 - 3 2 1/4 - 4 1/2
Zoysiagrass 1/2 - 1 3/4 - 1 1/2
Photo of person mowing a lawn
Photo by Cheryl Reynolds

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