Mowing frequency advice written for Ontario or the US Midwest does not transfer to the coast. Metro Vancouver has one of the longest growing seasons in Canada and a rainfall pattern that pushes growth hard in spring and stalls it in late summer. Here is the schedule that actually matches our conditions.
How often should you mow in Metro Vancouver?
Mow every 5 to 7 days from May through June, every 7 to 10 days in July and August, every 10 to 14 days in September and October, and roughly monthly or not at all from November through February. The reason frequency changes is the one-third rule: never remove more than a third of the grass blade in a single cut. During the May–June peak, Metro Vancouver lawns can add more than an inch a week, so a two-week gap forces you to violate that rule and stress the plant.
Month-by-month schedule
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Why you should mow higher than you think
The most common self-inflicted lawn problem in South Surrey is cutting too short. Taller grass grows proportionally deeper roots, which means better drought tolerance in our increasingly dry Augusts. It also shades the soil surface, which suppresses both weed seeds and the moss spores that would otherwise get a foothold. Three to three and a half inches is the working range for most of the year, and raising to a full four inches through the summer heat is one of the cheapest ways to keep a lawn green without extra watering.
The exception is the final cut of the season, around late October. Dropping to two and a half inches going into winter reduces the matted, damp growth that snow mould and winter fungus feed on.
Should you mow when the grass is wet?
In Metro Vancouver you sometimes have no choice, but avoid it where you can. Wet grass bends away from the blade instead of standing up to it, producing an uneven cut. It also clumps, and those clumps smother the turf underneath and leave yellow patches. Wet clippings pack into the mower deck and around the blade, and mowing wet soil compacts it — the same compaction that drives our moss problems. If you must cut wet grass, raise the deck a notch, slow down, and take narrower passes.
Other things that matter more than frequency
**Sharp blades.** A dull blade tears rather than slices. Torn tips turn white, then brown, and the open wounds invite disease. Sharpen every 20 to 25 hours of mowing.
**Change direction.** Mowing the same pattern every week trains the grass to lean and compacts wheel tracks. Alternate direction each visit.
**Grasscycle.** Leaving mulched clippings on the lawn returns up to a quarter of your lawn's annual nitrogen needs for free. Clippings do not cause thatch — that is a persistent myth. Thatch comes from roots and stems, not leaf blades.
Go Green Mowing runs weekly and bi-weekly schedules across South Surrey, White Rock, Surrey, Delta and Langley, adjusted seasonally rather than fixed year-round. Call 778-558-0447 for a free estimate.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I mow my lawn in Metro Vancouver?
Mow every 5 to 7 days from May through June, every 7 to 10 days in July and August, every 10 to 14 days in September and October, and rarely from November through February. Frequency follows growth rate so you never remove more than one third of the grass blade in a single cut.
What height should I cut my grass in BC?
Keep grass at 3 to 3.5 inches for most of the year in BC, raise to 3.5 to 4 inches through summer heat to conserve soil moisture, and drop to 2.5 to 3 inches for the final cut in late October to reduce winter snow mould. Cutting shorter than 2.5 inches encourages moss and weeds by exposing the soil surface.
Should I bag or mulch my grass clippings?
Mulch them. Returning clippings to the lawn supplies up to a quarter of its annual nitrogen for free. Clippings do not cause thatch — thatch is built from roots and stems, not leaf blades. Bag only when the grass is very long, wet enough to clump, or diseased.
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