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Lawn Care Guide for South West Sydney
How often to mow, how short to cut and how much to water — the simple rules that keep a Campbelltown, Camden or Narellan lawn thick and green all year.
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What grass have you got?
Almost every lawn around Macarthur is one of four warm-season grasses. They all grow fast in summer and slow right down in winter — but they like being cut at different heights, so it helps to know which one you have.
- Most common
Kikuyu
Bright green, fast growing and tough. Spreads aggressively with thick runners above and below ground. Loves sun, struggles in shade.
- Soft & broad
Buffalo
Wide, soft, darker green leaf (Sir Walter is a common variety). Handles some shade and grows a little slower than kikuyu.
- Fine & low
Couch
Very fine leaf that can be cut short — think bowling greens and sports fields. Needs full sun and goes pale brown in winter.
- Slow & dense
Zoysia
Dense, fine-to-medium leaf that feels spongy underfoot. Slow growing and low maintenance, with good shade tolerance.
Not sure? Text us a close-up photo on 0481 389 606 and we'll tell you.
Frequency
How often should you mow?
Warm-season grass grows with the temperature. In the heat of summer it can grow several centimetres a week; in a Macarthur winter it barely moves. So the right schedule changes with the season:
- Peak growth — every 1–2 weeks
- Spring & autumn — every 2–3 weeks
- Winter — about every 4 weeks
Mowing on a steady schedule is what keeps you inside the one-third rule below. Leave it too long between cuts and you're forced to take off too much at once — which is when lawns go brown.
That's why our rounds follow the season
Fortnightly through the growing months and every 4 weeks in winter — so your lawn is always cut at the right time, and you only pay for the visits it actually needs.
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How short should you cut? The one-third rule
Never take off more than a third of the grass blade in one mow.
The green leaf is how grass feeds itself. Cut too much at once — called scalping — and the lawn is left with brown stalks, shallow roots and bare soil that dries out fast and lets weeds in. Cutting a little higher also shades the soil, holds moisture and crowds out weeds naturally.
| Grass | Sunny areas | Shady areas |
|---|---|---|
| Kikuyu | 30–50 mm | Keep to the upper end |
| Buffalo | 35–50 mm | 50–70 mm |
| Couch | 20–40 mm | Prefers full sun |
| Zoysia | 25–50 mm | 50–70 mm |
A general guide — exact heights vary by variety. In the hottest weeks of summer and through winter, cutting at the higher end helps the lawn cope with heat, drought and frost.
Lawn already too long? Cutting it straight down to the right height breaks the one-third rule. We bring overgrown lawns back in stages, or do a first-cut clean-up. See overgrown lawns →
Watering
How often should you water?
Deep and less often beats a little every day. A light daily sprinkle only wets the surface, so roots stay shallow and the lawn wilts the moment it gets hot. A deep soak once or twice a week in summer pushes roots down to where the soil stays moist.
- Summer: a deep soak once or twice a week in hot, dry spells.
- Spring & autumn: only when it's been dry for a while.
- Winter: established lawns rarely need watering.
- Best time: early morning — less evaporation, and the leaf dries during the day, which helps prevent fungus.
- Quick test: if your footprints stay flat on the grass instead of springing back, it's thirsty.
Sydney Water rules: watering lawns and gardens with sprinklers or hoses (with a trigger nozzle) is only allowed before 10am and after 4pm. These Water Wise Guidelines apply all year across Greater Sydney.
Technique
Mowing habits that make a difference
- Sharp bladesA blunt blade tears the grass instead of cutting it, leaving white, frayed tips that brown off. We sharpen ours regularly.
- Don't mow wet grassWet grass clumps, cuts unevenly and ruts the soil. It's why we move visits after heavy rain.
- Change directionMowing the same way every time flattens the grass and wears tracks. Alternating direction keeps it upright and even.
- ClippingsShort clippings from a regular mow can feed the soil. Long or wet clippings smother the lawn and should be removed.
- Edges finish the jobCrisp edges along paths and driveways and a whipper snip around fences make the whole yard look sharp.
- Blow it cleanBlowing clippings off paths and driveways stops them being walked inside or washed into drains.
Troubleshooting
Signs your lawn needs help
- Brown or yellow after a mowLawn mowing →
Usually cut too short, a blunt blade, or cutting in extreme heat.
- Knee-high grass and seed headsOvergrown lawns →
Too long between cuts — needs bringing down in stages.
- Weeds taking overWeed control →
Thin or scalped lawns let weeds in. Treat them, then mow at the right height.
- Runners creeping into garden bedsGarden clean-ups →
Kikuyu and couch spread fast without regular edging.
- Piles of clippings and pruningsGreen waste removal →
More than the green bin can take.
Questions
Lawn care FAQs
How often should I mow my lawn in Sydney?
Every 1–2 weeks in spring and summer, every 2–3 weeks in autumn and about every 4 weeks in winter. Warm-season grasses like kikuyu and buffalo grow fast when it's hot and almost stop in the cold, so the schedule should follow the season.
Is it better to cut my grass really short so it lasts longer?
No. Scalping the lawn removes the green leaf the grass needs to feed itself, so it browns off, dries out faster and lets weeds and heat into the soil. Taking off no more than a third of the leaf at a time keeps it thick and green.
Why does my lawn look brown or yellow after mowing?
Usually because too much was taken off at once, the mower blade was blunt and tore the tips, or the grass was cut short in hot, dry weather. It normally recovers within a couple of weeks at the right height.
Should I mow in winter?
Yes, but much less often. Warm-season lawns barely grow in winter, so a tidy-up about every 4 weeks keeps it neat, and leaving it slightly longer protects it from frost and cold.
How often should I water my lawn?
A deep soak once or twice a week in hot weather is better than a light sprinkle every day, because it trains roots to grow deeper. In winter, established lawns in South West Sydney often need little or no watering.
What time of day should I water?
Early morning is best — less water is lost to evaporation and the leaf dries during the day, which helps prevent fungus. Under Sydney Water's Water Wise Guidelines, watering with sprinklers or hoses is only allowed before 10am and after 4pm.
Should I leave the grass clippings on the lawn?
Fine clippings from a regular mow can return nutrients to the soil. Long or wet clippings smother the grass and should be removed. On our rounds, clippings go into your green bin unless you ask otherwise.
More from Big Green Mowing
Other services
- Lawn mowingRegular rounds with edging, whipper snipping and blow-down.
- Garden clean-ups & clearanceFull backyard clean-ups and clearance, all waste taken away.
- Hedge trimmingHedges and shrubs trimmed neat and cleaned up.
- Weed controlStandard or organic spraying, plus hand pulling in garden beds.
- Overgrown lawnsFirst-cut clean-ups for long grass and weeds.
- Green waste removalBranches, clippings and garden piles loaded and taken away.
- Commercial & strataScheduled grounds maintenance for strata, rentals and business sites.
Rather not think about any of it?
We mow on the right schedule, at the right height, with edging, whipper snipping and blow-down every visit.
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