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How to mow an overgrown lawn in stages

Plan a higher first cut, check for hazards hidden in long grass, and bring the lawn back to its usual height over later visits.

If you’ve come back from a trip to patches of tall grass or inherited a lawn that missed several cuts, start by checking what’s under the grass. For a lawn you can mow safely, plan a higher first cut and lower the height over later visits. That gives you a manageable way back to your usual cut. Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety · Purdue University Extension

Walk the area before anyone starts mowing

Use the driveway or path as a starting point and check the sections where grass has grown over the edges. Look for loose stones, sticks, and toys. Note fixed objects such as irrigation heads, pipes and partly buried rocks. Tell the operator where they are, especially if the grass hides them from view. If you can’t see enough to check the area, get an assessment before trying to cut through it. Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety

Set a higher first cut

For established lawn grass, a good limit is to take off up to one-third of the blade height per cut. If the grass is 15 cm high, for example, aim to leave at least 10 cm on the first pass. For grass that is taller than the mower can handle within its safe settings, have the area assessed and agree on the work needed. Share a photo from the side with a ruler or familiar object for scale. Purdue University Extension · Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety

Wait for dry grass and firm soil

After heavy rain, check the low spots before settling on a mowing day. Wet grass can make a riding mower lose traction, and saturated soil compacts more easily under foot and equipment traffic. Wait until the grass is dry and the ground is firm enough to work on. Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety · University of Vermont Extension

Measure again before the next cut

Use the lawn’s height at the next visit to decide how far to lower it. If it has grown from 10 cm to 12 cm since the first cut, you can take it to 8 cm while staying within the one-third limit. If it has grown more than that, leave it higher and check again before the next visit. A lawn that’s been left for several weeks may need more than one visit to reach your preferred height. Purdue University Extension

For help catching up, request a lawn mowing quote with an approximate height, a few photos, and a note about slopes or obstacles. See our lawn mowing service for the details we use to plan a visit around Fort St. John.

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