Home / Mowing / Every two weeks
GUIDE · 5 MIN READ · UPDATED OCT 6, 2026
Sometimes. Mowing every two weeks is fine when grass is growing slowly, such as in summer drought, late fall, or on a lawn kept tall. During fast spring growth it usually is not enough, because you end up cutting off far more than one-third of the blade at once.
| Situation | Biweekly OK? |
|---|---|
| Spring growth flush | Usually no |
| Warm-season grass in peak summer | Usually no |
| Cool-season grass in summer heat | Often yes |
| Late fall slowdown | Often yes |
| Low-input lawn kept at the tall end of its range | Often yes |
| Short-cut Bermuda or zoysia | Rarely |
TIP 01
Use the one-third rule as your test
The one-third rule says never remove more than a third of the grass blade in one cut. So the real question is whether your grass grows more than a third above its target height in 14 days. Take tall fescue kept at 3 inches: you should mow by the time it reaches about 4.5 inches. If it gets there in a week, biweekly mowing means you are cutting 4.5 inches or more off a 6-inch-plus lawn, which is too much. If it takes two weeks to get there, biweekly is fine.
Measure with a ruler a week after mowing to see where you stand. Our mowing guide explains how frequency, height and timing work together.
TIP 02
What happens when you wait too long
- Scalping and browning. Removing a lot of blade at once exposes pale stems; the lawn looks yellow or brown for days. See why grass looks yellow after mowing.
- Heavy clippings. Big piles of clippings mat down and smother the turf instead of breaking down.
- Weaker roots. Repeated heavy cuts stress the plant and make room for weeds.
- Harder mowing. Tall, thick grass clogs the deck and takes longer to cut.
WEEKLY OR BIWEEKLY?
A local mowing pro can price both schedules and switch your lawn between them as the season changes.
TIP 03
How to make biweekly mowing work
- Mow at the top of your range. Taller grass gives you more room before you break the one-third rule. Check mowing height by grass type.
- Go easy on nitrogen. Heavy spring fertilizing speeds up growth and makes a two-week schedule harder to keep.
- Add a mow in spring. Switch to weekly during the spring flush, then go back to biweekly when growth slows.
- Keep the blade sharp. Longer grass is harder to cut cleanly.
- Bag if needed. If clippings are heavy, bag them or mow twice at different heights.
If it has gotten well past that point, follow our steps for mowing tall, overgrown grass and bring it down gradually.
TIP 04
Grass type makes a big difference
Lawns kept short need more frequent mowing because there is less room before a third is too much. Bermuda and zoysia kept at 1 to 2 inches can need mowing more than once a week at the height of summer. Tall fescue and St. Augustine kept at 3 to 4 inches are much more forgiving and are the most likely to handle a biweekly schedule. For the full seasonal picture, see how often you should mow.
TIP 05
Weekly vs biweekly service
Many mowing services offer both schedules. Recurring mowing for an eighth- to quarter-acre lawn typically runs $30 to $85 per visit (HomeGuide, 2026). Biweekly means fewer visits, though some crews charge a bit more per visit because the grass is taller. The easiest way to decide is to compare weekly vs biweekly quotes for your own yard. For more on pricing, read our lawn mowing cost guide.