How To Mow An Overgrown Lawn
Let’s face it—life gets busy, and before you know it, your neat and tidy lawn looks more like a paddock. Mowing an overgrown lawn isn’t quite as straightforward as your usual weekend tidy-up—but don’t worry, it’s not a lost cause!
While regular lawn maintenance is always the best approach, you can still reclaim your yard with the right steps. All it takes is a bit of time, a solid plan, and some patience. Whether your grass has shot up over a few rainy weeks or you’ve just moved into a neglected property, here’s how to get things back under control.
Why Lawn Mowing Matters
An overgrown lawn isn’t just an eyesore—it can also create a range of problems for your home and garden. Long grass provides the perfect hiding spot for common lawn pests like rodents and insects, and can become a breeding ground for weeds and lawn diseases. Managing your lawn properly is one of the best ways to keep your outdoor space healthy and balanced.
Beyond that, lawn care plays a role in your home’s overall appearance and safety. Overgrown grass can hide hazards like uneven ground, rocks, or debris, creating a potential tripping risk, especially for kids or pets, making lawn maintenance all the more important.
Getting Down to Business
Bringing an overgrown lawn back under control takes a bit more planning than your average mow. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you tackle it the right way:
1. Check the weather
Try to time your mow for a dry day. Wet grass is harder to work with, can clog your mower, and makes the job messier and more hazardous. Dry conditions are not only easier to mow through but also safer and more pleasant to work in.
2. Inspect the lawn
Before doing anything else, take a walk around your yard and inspect the area. Overgrown grass can hide all sorts of debris—rocks, sticks, rubbish, and toys can all pose a risk to both you and your equipment. Remove anything that doesn’t belong to avoid damaging your mower or causing injury.
3. Start with a whipper snipper
If your lawn is especially tall—anything above knee height—it’s best to take the top off with a whipper snipper or line trimmer before you mow. Trying to run a mower through long grass can clog the blades, strain the engine, and leave behind an uneven or damaged lawn. Once you’ve trimmed it down, rake up the clippings to give the mower a clean run and prevent smothering the grass.
Important Note: Don’t mow your grass too short straight away. Trimming too short or cutting more than 50% of the blade length in one go can shock the grass and cause long-term damage. It’s better to mow high first, then gradually lower the cutting height across multiple mows.
4. Mow in Stages
Now that the grass is trimmed and cleared, it’s time to mow—but keep your mower set to its highest setting for the first pass. After a few days, you can go back over it with a lower setting if needed. This step-by-step approach allows the lawn to adjust and bounce back, rather than going into shock from sudden cutting.
5. Feed and Water
Give your lawn a few days to settle after mowing, then follow up with a slow-release fertiliser and a deep watering. This encourages healthy root growth and helps your lawn recover and thicken up faster. Think of it as a little TLC after all the hard work.
What’s Next
Once your lawn is under control, the best thing you can do is stick to a schedule. Regular mowing encourages denser growth, helps crowd out weeds, and keeps your grass looking lush and tidy. How often you mow will depend on your grass type and the season, but aiming for once every 1–2 weeks is a good rule of thumb during peak growing periods.
It’s also a good idea to keep your mower blades sharp and your equipment clean. Dull blades can tear the grass instead of cutting it cleanly, which can leave it vulnerable to disease. Cleaning your mower after each use also helps prevent the spread of weeds and lawn nasties across different parts of your yard.
Help Keeping Things Under Control
Reclaiming an overgrown lawn is a satisfying project, but it can be a big task—especially if you’re short on time, tools, or experience. That’s where Jim’s Mowing comes in. Whether you need a one-off lawn rescue or ongoing lawn care services to stay on top of things, we’ve got you covered.
Our experienced team can get your lawn back into shape quickly and professionally, with services tailored to suit your yard, lifestyle, and budget. We work all over Australia, offering friendly, local support that’s just a phone call away. Call us today!
