How Often Should You Mow Your Lawn in Holland, MI? A Season-by-Season Guide
- Mike
- a few seconds ago
- 2 min read
If you're asking how often you should be mowing, the honest answer is: it depends on the month, not the calendar.
The real rule: the one-third rule.
Never remove more than one-third of the grass blade in a single cut. If you're mowing at 3 inches, that means cutting once the grass hits about 4.5 inches — not waiting until it's 7 inches because "it's not Saturday yet." Cutting too much at once shocks the lawn, exposes the crown to sun damage, and weakens the root system right when it needs to be building strength.
Holland's mowing calendar, season by season:
April (green-up): Grass is just waking up. Mow every 10–14 days as growth ramps up slowly. Cutting too short or too often this early stresses a lawn that's still establishing itself after winter.
May–June (peak growth): This is Holland's fastest growing window. Lake-effect spring rain plus warming soil means grass can grow 1–2 inches per week. Weekly mowing is almost always necessary during this stretch — skipping a week means a much harder cut the following week.
July–August (summer slowdown): Growth slows during hot, dry stretches. Raising your cutting height to 3.5–4 inches helps grass retain moisture and shade its own roots through summer stress.
September–October (fall flush): Cooler temperatures and rain bring a second growth surge. Weekly mowing often returns until growth slows ahead of winter dormancy.
What height should you actually cut at?
For Holland's common cool-season grasses — Kentucky bluegrass, fescue, and perennial ryegrass: 3.5-4 inches is the sweet spot through most of the season. Taller grass shades the soil, holds moisture better, and out-competes weeds. Scalping your lawn short might look tidy for a day, but it invites crabgrass, increases watering needs, and stresses the lawn during Michigan's hot, humid stretches.
Sharp blades matter more than people think.
A dull mower blade tears grass instead of cutting it cleanly. Torn grass tips turn brown, look ragged within a day or two, and create entry points for fungal disease. We sharpen blades regularly as part of every route — something a lot of homeowners mowing their own lawns (or even some lower-cost services) skip.
Call (616) 886-6734Â if you'd rather not track all of this yourself. We've been reading Holland lawns and adjusting mowing schedules accordingly since 2000.
Advantage Landscape & Turf Management — serving Holland, Zeeland, Grand Haven, and West Michigan since 2000.