Mow Zoysia Grass the Right Way: Cut Height, Schedule & Easy Tips
Yuting Li
Zoysia grass is one of those lawn types people love. It’s easy to see why, thick, soft, and doesn’t need a lot of fuss. But like any lawn, it still needs a little routine care to keep it looking good.
If you cut it too short, the grass can get stressed. Let it grow too tall, and it becomes thick, spongy, and tough to mow. It might even start building up that layer of dead grass underneath, we call thatch.
The good news? Zoysia is pretty easy to manage once you know what it needs. In this post, we’ll walk through the basics, how tall to keep it, how often to mow, and a few low-effort tips to help your lawn stay healthy and happy.
What’s So Special About Zoysia Grass?
Zoysia is what’s known as a warm-season grass. That just means it loves the heat. Summer is when it really thrives. It grows slowly in spring, hits its stride in the hot months, then slows down again once things cool off.
If you live in the southern U.S., there’s a good chance you’ve seen or stepped on a Zoysia lawn. People like it because:
- It feels soft and thick under your feet
- It handles heat and dry spells like a champ
- It’s tough, great if you’ve got kids, dogs, or a lot of foot traffic
- It grows so dense that it naturally crowds out weeds
But that thick growth comes with one small catch: if you don’t mow it regularly, it can get tangled and really tough to cut. So yeah, a little mowing routine goes a long way.
How Short Should I Cut It?
Zoysia likes to stay between 1.25 to 2 inches tall (3-5 cm).
- Want a tidy, golf-course look? Stick closer to 1.25 inches
- Prefer something a little more relaxed (or don’t want to mow too often)? Around 2 inches is perfect
Tip: Never chop off more than 1/3 of the grass height at once. So, if your lawn’s 6 cm tall, only cut it down to about 4 cm.
Going too short can damage the roots, stress the grass, and make room for weeds or disease. Basically, it’s not worth it.
How Often Should I Mow Zoysia?
Zoysia grows a bit slower than other grasses, but in summer, it still needs regular attention.
Here’s a rough schedule:
- Spring & early fall: Mow every 10 to 14 days
- Summer: About once a week is ideal
- Late fall & winter: You can mostly leave it alone. Zoysia goes dormant and doesn’t need mowing
Letting it grow too long means more work later. It gets harder to cut and more likely to pile up thatch underneath.
A Few Mowing Tips That Actually Make a Difference
You don’t need a fancy routine, just a few small things can make a big difference:
- Keep your mower blades sharp. Dull blades tear the grass instead of slicing it cleanly
- Change your mowing direction sometimes. It helps the grass grow straight and keeps ruts from forming
- Mow when the lawn is dry. Wet grass clumps and leaves a mess
- Leave short clippings on the lawn. They break down quickly and feed your soil
- Raise the mower a notch during heatwaves. A little extra height helps the roots stay cool and hold moisture
Easy Mistakes to Avoid
Even with an easygoing grass like Zoysia, there are a few things that can mess it up:
- Cutting it way too short : This stresses the lawn and opens space for weeds
- Letting it grow wild: It’ll get thick, tangled, and hard to mow and thatch will build up
- Waiting too long between cuts: Zoysia does best with regular trimming
- Mowing when it’s wet: Leads to messy cuts and can spread lawn diseases
Is Zoysia Good for Robot Mowers?
Actually… it’s kind of perfect for them.
Zoysia loves frequent, light mowing — which is exactly what robot mowers are built for. They cut a little every day, so your lawn always stays at the right height without you having to think about it.
Here’s why robot mowers and Zoysia get along so well:
- They keep the grass trimmed just enough, all the time
- No buildup of thatch
- No more guessing when or how much to cut
- No sweating in 90-degree heat on a Saturday afternoon
If you’ve been thinking about going the robot route, Zoysia is one of the best lawns to try it on.
Conclusion
Zoysia is a great choice if you want a good-looking lawn that doesn’t need tons of work. But like anything green and growing, it still needs a bit of care — and mowing it the right way is a big part of that.
Here’s the short version:
- Keep it between 1.25–2 inches
- Mow once a week in summer, and about every 10–14 days in spring and fall
- Don’t mow too short or let it get too long
- Be consistent or let a robot mower take care of it for you
Stick to that plan, and your Zoysia lawn will stay soft, thick, and green all season long, no drama, no guesswork.
