How Often Should You Mow Your Lawn in Kerikeri?

Kerikeri sits in the 'winterless north' — mild temperatures, plenty of rain and sunshine mean lawns here grow faster and for longer than almost anywhere else in New Zealand. That also means mowing isn't just a summer job.

So how often should you actually mow? It depends on the season, your grass type, and how tidy you like things — but there are reliable rules of thumb.

A season-by-season guide

Every lawn is different, but this schedule works for most Kerikeri properties:

• Spring (September–November): growth explodes. Mow weekly, and don't let it get away on you — catching up is much harder than keeping up.
• Summer (December–February): weekly to fortnightly. In dry spells, raise the cutting height and mow less often to protect roots from heat stress.
• Autumn (March–May): every 1–2 weeks as growth slows. A last tidy mow before winter keeps fungus and thatch at bay.
• Winter (June–August): every 2–4 weeks, or as needed. Grass still grows here — just slowly. Never mow when the ground is waterlogged.

The one-third rule

Whatever the season, never remove more than a third of the leaf blade in a single mow. Scalping stresses the grass, exposes soil to weeds, and leaves brown patches that take weeks to recover.

If the lawn has got away on you — after a holiday, or a few weeks of spring rain — mow it in two passes a few days apart, taking a little off each time.

Signs you're not mowing often enough

If you're seeing seed heads, clumps of clippings smothering the grass, or the lawn looks ragged rather than neatly striped after a mow, the gap between cuts is too long. Little and often always beats a monthly hack-back.

And if keeping up with Kerikeri's growing season sounds like a chore, that's exactly what we're here for — regular mowing plans keep your lawn in shape all year without you lifting a finger.