The right mowing schedule keeps your lawn thick, healthy, and looking great. But in Rhode Island, the ideal frequency changes throughout the growing season. Here's what you need to know.
Rhode Island's Growing Season
Rhode Island lawns are mostly cool-season grasses — Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, and fine fescues. These grasses grow most actively when temperatures are between 60-75°F, which in Rhode Island means:
- Peak growth: April through June, and again in September through October
- Slower growth: July and August (heat stress)
- Dormant: November through March
The Ideal Mowing Schedule
April – June: Weekly Mowing This is prime growing season. Cool-season grasses in Rhode Island can grow 2-3 inches per week during this period. Weekly mowing keeps your lawn looking clean and prevents you from cutting off more than one-third of the blade height at a time (the golden rule of mowing).
July – August: Every 10-14 Days Summer heat slows growth significantly. You may only need mowing every 10 days to two weeks. During dry spells, growth slows even more. Avoid mowing during drought stress — it does more harm than good.
September – October: Weekly Mowing As temperatures cool, growth picks up again. Resume weekly mowing to keep things tidy through fall. This is also when you want to start gradually lowering your cut height for the final mow.
November: Final Mow One last cut at about 2.5-3 inches before your lawn goes dormant for winter.
How High Should You Cut?
For Rhode Island's cool-season grasses, the ideal mowing height is 3 to 3.5 inches during the growing season. This might seem tall, but taller grass:
- Shades the soil and retains moisture
- Develops deeper roots
- Crowds out weeds naturally
- Handles heat stress better in summer
The only time to go shorter is your final fall mow.
What Else Matters?
- Sharp blades make clean cuts. Dull blades tear grass and leave it vulnerable to disease.
- Don't mow wet grass. It clumps, spreads disease, and gives an uneven cut.
- Vary your mowing pattern each visit to prevent soil compaction and ruts.
Let Us Handle It
Keeping up with a mowing schedule takes consistency. Miss a week or two and you're fighting to catch up without scalping the lawn.
At Four Seasons Lawn Care, we take care of the schedule so you don't have to think about it. Weekly or biweekly — we'll keep your Rhode Island lawn at the right height all season.
Call or text (401) 767-0067 to start your mowing plan.
