{"id":4920,"date":"2021-08-27T00:41:32","date_gmt":"2021-08-27T00:41:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/?p=4920"},"modified":"2026-08-07T23:57:53","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T23:57:53","slug":"how-to-cut-long-grass","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/how-to-cut-long-grass\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Cut Long Grass (Even Without a Mower)"},"content":{"rendered":"
Key Takeaways<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
\u2022 Never remove more than one-third<\/strong> of the grass height in a single cut
\u2022<\/strong> String trimmer first<\/strong> for any grass over 6 inches tall
\u2022<\/strong> Wait 3-4 days between cuts<\/strong> for grass recovery
\u2022<\/strong> Total time: 10-14 days<\/strong> from overgrown to maintained
\u2022<\/strong> Mow only when dry<\/strong> to avoid clogging and tearing<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>

Overgrown lawns happen to everyone. Maybe you were away for a trip, or the weather simply didn\u2019t cooperate. Before you know it, you’re facing knee-high grass.<\/p>

Here’s the mistake most people make: They try to mow it all at once. That’s how you damage your lawn and ruin your mower.<\/p>

Instead, trim the top layer with a string trimmer to about 6 inches, let it recover for 3-4 days, then mow gradually using the one-third rule. For grass taller than 12 inches, you’ll need multiple sessions spaced several days apart.<\/p>

In this article, I\u2019ll walk you through how to cut long grass step by step so you can bring your yard back under control without damaging it.<\/p>

Difficulty: <\/strong>Moderate 
Estimated time to complete: <\/strong>14 days or more (includes multiple mowing sessions and recovery time)
Project cost: <\/strong>$50 to $100 (if you already have a mower, string trimmer, and leaf blower)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>

What you need<\/span><\/h2>

Here are all the tools and equipment you need to get started: <\/p>