How Often to Mow Buffalo Grass: Simple 2026 Schedule

8 min read by Laura Kessler Updated November 11, 2026

How often to mow buffalo grass depends on water and growth, but a watered lawn usually needs a cut every 10 to 20 days. Colorado State University Extension gives that interval for buffalograss lawns. Extension sources disagree on the exact cutting height, so this guide shows where they overlap, how the one-third rule sets the schedule, and what changes when a robot mower does the work.

The short answer

Watered lawn: mow about every 10 to 20 days, according to Colorado State University Extension.
Cutting height: 2 to 3 inches for a typical irrigated lawn, the range most sources share.
One-third rule: never remove more than one-third of the grass height in a single mowing.
Dry lawn: mow less often. Colorado State says buffalograss can also do well unmowed.
Timing: follow the growth rate of the lawn, not the calendar.

Buffalo grass mowing height

The cutting height you choose changes how often to mow buffalo grass, because a taller setting leaves more leaf between cuts. Sources give different numbers, mostly because they describe different lawns, watering levels and varieties. The table below lists the figures from the pages we read directly.

Source	What it says about buffalo grass
Lawn Manual (buffalo grass care guide)	2 to 3 inches is the ideal height to keep it at
Colorado State University Extension	Buffalograss can be mowed to 2 to 3 inches, but it also does well unmowed; the minimum height for any lawn is 2 inches
UC IPM (Healthy Lawns)	Mower setting of 1 to 2 inches, mowing when the grass reaches 1 1/2 to 3 inches
K-State Extension, spring 2026	Mowing height of 3 to 4 inches for buffalograss lawns
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension	A range of 2 to 4 inches, with 2.5 inches as the optimal height when mowing frequency is right

The gap between 2 to 3 inches and 3 to 4 inches is the one to watch. A taller setting means fewer cuts, but it also means more clippings each time. Our reading is that 2 to 3 inches fits most irrigated lawns, and that 3 to 4 inches suits a lawn that you want to mow less often. Check your mower’s lowest setting before you choose a target, and see our guide to buffalo grass cutting height for the height side in more detail.

How often to mow buffalo grass

For a watered lawn, Colorado State University Extension says buffalograss may need mowing once every 10 to 20 days, and the exact interval depends on how much you water. A lawn with regular irrigation grows faster and needs cuts at the shorter end of that range. A lawn that gets little or no water grows more slowly and can go longer between cuts.

K-State Extension takes a similar view. Its 2026 spring guide says mowing frequency should be based on the growth rate of the lawn, and it advises against following a fixed schedule. That makes the calendar a poor guide. Watch the grass instead.

Robot lawn mower on a green lawn beside a sidewalk, set to a regular mowing frequency — Short, frequent runs keep each cut within the one-third rule.

Peak growth: our reading is to check about every 10 days and cut once the grass has grown past the one-third limit.
Slow growth or dry weather: stretch the interval toward 20 days, or skip a cut.
Dormant or near-dormant turf: Colorado State says buffalograss can do well unmowed, so a cut is optional rather than required.

The one-third rule for buffalo grass

The one-third rule sets the limit for every mowing, and it is the simplest way to decide how often to mow buffalo grass. Colorado State University Extension says to mow often enough that no more than a third of the grass height is removed in a single cut. K-State makes the same point in its spring guidance, saying only one-third of the grass leaf should be cut at a time.

The rule turns into simple numbers. If you keep the lawn at 2 inches, let the grass reach about 3 inches before you cut it, which removes one inch and leaves two. If you keep it at 3 inches, the grass can reach about 4 1/2 inches before the cut. These examples are our arithmetic from the one-third rule, not figures from a source.

Metal ruler in a lawn between a freshly cut strip and taller uncut grass, a quick check for how often to mow buffalo grass — A ruler shows how much taller the uncut grass is than the cut strip.

Spring start-up and overgrown lawns

Buffalo grass that has been left too long needs a gradual return, so the question of how often to mow buffalo grass after a long gap has a careful answer. K-State Extension advises removing the excess in stages, with a few days between each mowing, rather than cutting it down in one pass. The same staged approach applies when you cut an overgrown lawn before a robot mower takes over. Colorado State gives the same approach: if you cannot mow on schedule, raise the mower for one cut and then cut again a few days later at the normal height.

Raise the deck first. Set the mower to its highest setting for the first pass on an overgrown lawn.
Wait a few days. K-State recommends a few days between mowings when the lawn is overgrown.
Lower the setting. Return to your target height of 2 to 3 inches once the grass is back in range.

Spring is the time to restart the schedule. K-State says to resume maintenance as the weather warms and the grass begins to grow faster. The article does not give a fixed date, so let growth decide when your first cut happens.

Cutting buffalo grass too low

Cutting buffalo grass below its range is the fastest way to damage it, and keeping the height right matters as much as the schedule. Colorado State lists 2 inches as the minimum height for any lawn, which gives you a clear floor. Going lower in one step is a classic case of cutting grass too short, because it removes more of the leaf than the one-third rule allows.

Cuts that take off more than a third: the one-third rule is the test, so measure the height before and after a pass.
Brown patches after mowing: our reading is that the setting is too low for the lawn, so raise it.

Lawn Manual says buffalo grass should be mowed infrequently for ideal health, which points the same direction as the rules on how often to mow buffalo grass. When in doubt, raise the setting and cut less.

Mowing buffalo grass with a robot mower

Extension guides are written for push and ride-on mowers, so the advice below is our reading of their rules rather than a quote from them. A robot mower that runs short cycles removes only a small amount of leaf each time, which fits the one-third rule well and changes how often to mow buffalo grass in practice. The main limit is the mower’s lowest setting, so compare it with the 2 to 3 inch range before you buy. Our note on the mowing height for a robot-mowed lawn explains how to read those settings.

Check the lowest cutting height. A mower that cannot go to 2 inches will cut the lawn shorter than the sources recommend.
Set a target and hold it. Pick 2 to 3 inches and avoid frequent large changes.
Let it run during growth. More frequent short runs in peak season keep each cut within the one-third rule.
Adjust for dry spells. Raise the setting or reduce runs when the lawn is not being watered.

Heads up

Some sources list buffalo grass as a grass that can stay unmowed. If you let it grow tall and leave it, you give up the even look most homeowners want, so decide how often to mow buffalo grass around the look you prefer before you set a schedule.

Frequently asked questions

How often should I mow buffalo grass?

Colorado State University Extension says buffalograss lawns may need mowing once every 10 to 20 days, depending on watering. K-State Extension advises basing the schedule on the lawn’s growth rate rather than a fixed calendar. Check the grass before each planned cut.

What height should buffalo grass be?

Lawn Manual gives 2 to 3 inches as the ideal height for buffalo grass. UC IPM lists a mower setting of 1 to 2 inches, and K-State gives 3 to 4 inches for buffalograss lawns. A height of 2 to 3 inches sits in the middle of the sources that give a clear range, which makes it a practical target when you plan how often to mow buffalo grass.

Can buffalo grass be left unmowed?

Yes, according to Colorado State University Extension, buffalograss can do well unmowed. It also says the grass can be mowed to 2 to 3 inches. If you choose not to mow, expect a taller, less uniform lawn, so the answer to how often to mow buffalo grass depends on the look you want.

Is buffalo grass the same as buffalograss?

Yes. Buffalo grass is the common name, and extension publications usually write it as buffalograss. The advice on this page applies to the same warm-season turf grass.

Sources

Lawn Care Basics (Colorado State University Extension, reviewed August 2025): the 10 to 20 day interval, the 2 inch minimum, the one-third rule and the raise-then-cut advice.
Mowing warm-season grasses (UC IPM, Healthy Lawns): the mower setting and mow-when height table for buffalograss.
Lawn maintenance should start now (K-State Extension, April 2026): the 3 to 4 inch height, growth-based frequency and gradual catch-up mowing.
Mowing (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension): the 2 to 4 inch range and 2.5 inch optimal height for buffalograss.
Buffalo Grass Lawn Care and Mowing Guide (LawnManual.com): the 2 to 3 inch ideal height and the infrequent mowing advice.